Early Rotator Cuff Repair Yields Lower Retear Rates and Superior Functional Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Optimal timing for surgery following acute rotator cuff tears remains unclear. This study examines how the timing of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) affects retear rates and functional outcomes. This PROSPERO-registered review (CRD42024528249) followed PRISMA guidelines and included randomized trials, and cohort, studies on adults with imaging-confirmed full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Studies lacking timing data or key outcomes were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I. Meta-analysis of retear rates was performed comparing surgical timing. Qualitative analysis was conducted classifying results as early-beneficial, delayed-detrimental, or neutral. Our review included 13 studies and 871 patients with an average age of 57.9. Meta-analysis of eight studies comparing retear rates between early and delayed RCR demonstrated a significant benefit associated with early intervention risk ratio 0.60 (95% CI: 0.38-0.96). Functional outcomes also favored early intervention with four studies demonstrating significantly greater postoperative functional improvements in the early intervention group. Early arthroscopic RCR decreased the rate of retear and improved functional outcomes. No study found early intervention to be detrimental or delayed intervention to be superior. These findings support consideration of early repair when clinically appropriate. Future studies should determine more finite timing guidelines.