Clinical outcomes of muscle advancement technique for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: comparison between cases with and without subscapularis tendon tear

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using the muscle advancement (MA) technique in cases with and without subscapularis (SSC) tendon tear. Methods: value of less than .05 was considered a significant difference. The mean post-operative follow-up period was 37.4 months. Results: The mean post-operative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was 90.5 in the T group and 86.8 in the NT group, and the mean post-operative Constant Murley score was 88.4 in the T group and 82.7 in the NT group. Both groups showed improvement post-operatively, with no significant differences between the 2 groups. The mean post-operative ROM was 152 degrees of flexion, 70 degrees of external rotation, and L1 of internal rotation in the T group, and 145 degrees of flexion, 58 degrees of external rotation, and L2 of internal rotation in the NT group, with no significant differences between the 2 groups. There were no significant differences in the retear rates between the 2 groups: 3 cases (14.3%) in the T group and 2 cases (20%) in the NT group. Conclusion: Clinical outcomes of MA were favorable for rotator cuff repair, irrespective of the presence or absence of SSC tears, and there were no significant differences in retear rates between the 2 groups.