Many factors intrinsic and extrinsic are known to influence the clinical result after rotator cuff repair. Achieving tendon healing is one of the objectives in surgical repair of the rotator cuff, and many factors could influence this healing. After one-year post-op, assessment of tendon healing can guide management if clinical examination reveals persistent pain or unsatisfactory mobility. Despite non-healing being known to be associated with poorer outcome in massive tear, it has not been clearly established that tendon healing has influence on the clinical outcome in the case of isolated distal ruptures. Therefore we performed a retrospective study aiming to determine whether if there is difference in clinical outcomes between healed and non-healed patients at one year follow up after isolated supraspinatus distal repair?

We hypothesized that tendon healing status at one year has no impact on clinical outcomes.

A retrospective comparative study was conducted in 203 patients who undergo repair of isolated distal supraspinatus tendon tear. Healing was assessed at 1 year on MRI using the Sugaya classification. Stages I, II and III counting as “healed”. Two groups were compared between 186 “healed” (107 females, 79 males) and 17 “non-healed” patients (9 females, 8 males). We analyzed evolution of Constant score and its subscores (pain, activities of daily living, motion and strength components), anterior elevation and lateral rotation at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and results at one year follow up.

There were no significant between the two groups in demographic data and surgical procedures. We found no significative differences during evolution at one year of follow up in global Constant score (healed, 73.7 ± 17.6; non-healed, 72.4 ± 15.6 (p = 0.72)) or its components: pain (11.3 vs 10.9 (p = 0.78)), activities of daily living (8.2 vs 8.3 (p = 0.85)), motion (35.4 vs 32.2 (p = 0.09)), strength (10.8 vs 10.1 (p = 0.59)), and anterior elevation (165.6 ° vs 163.2 ° (p = 0.65)) or lateral rotation (58.6 ° vs 58.7 ° (p = 0.98)).

Healing showed no clinical impact in isolated distal supraspinatus tendon repair at one year follow up in Constant score analysis and in pain, activities of daily living, strength or motion. Factors which could influence healing, and the absence of result are not clear. Even so, tendon healing is a prime objective, as it has been shown to prevent lesion extension and long-term clinical deterioration. Many studies have sought to improve intra- or post-operative healing, by improve surgical technique of repair and biological supplements. Further studies are needed to improve these results.

IV; retrospective study