Female Sex and Higher Infraspinatus Fatty Infiltration Are Linked to Dissatisfaction at a Minimum Follow-Up of 4 Years after Arthroscopic Repair of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears

PURPOSE: To evaluate patient satisfaction at a minimum of 4 years after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) of massive rotator cuff tears (MRCT), to identify preoperative and intraoperative characteristics associated with satisfaction, and to compare clinical outcomes between satisfied and dissatisfied patients. METHODS: A retrospective review on prospectively collected data was conducted on ARCRs of MRCTs performed at 2 institutions between January 2015 and December 2018. Patients with a minimum 4-year follow-up, preoperative and postoperative data, and primary ARCR of MRCTs were included for analysis. Patient satisfaction was analyzed according to patient demographics, patient-reported outcome measures (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score [ASES], visual analog scale [VAS] for pain, Veteran Rands 12-item health survey [VR-12], and Subjective Shoulder Value [SSV]), range of motion (forward flexion [FF], external rotation [ER], and internal rotation [IR]), tear characteristics (fatty infiltration, tendon involvement, and tear size), and clinical significant measures (minimal clinical important difference [MCID], substantial clinical benefit [SCB], and patient-acceptable symptomatic state [PASS]) for ASES and SSV. Rotator cuff healing was also assessed with ultrasound in 38 patients at final follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 100 patients met the study’s criteria. Overall, 89% of patients were satisfied with ARCR of a MRCT. Female sex (P = .007) and increased preoperative infraspinatus fatty infiltration (P = .005) were negatively associated with satisfaction. Those in the dissatisfied cohort had significantly lower postoperative ASES (80.7 vs 55.7; P = .002), VR-12 (49 vs 37.1; P = .002), and SSV scores (88.1 vs 56; P = .003), higher VAS pain (1.1 vs 4.1; P = .002) and lower postoperative range of motion in FF (147° vs 117°; P = .04), ER (46° vs 26°; P = .003), and IR (L2 vs L4; P = .04). Rotator cuff healing did not have an influence on patient satisfaction (P = .306). Satisfied patients were more likely to return to work than dissatisfied patients (97% vs 55%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 90% of patients who undergo ARCR for MRCTs are satisfied at a minimum 4-year follow-up. Negative preoperative factors include female sex and increased preoperative infraspinatus fatty infiltration, but no association was observed with rotator cuff healing. Furthermore, dissatisfied patients were less likely to report a clinically important functional improvement. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, prognostic case series.