Insufficient evidence to confirm benefit of adjuvant distal clavicle resection during rotator cuff repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study is to determine whether adjuvant Distal Clavicle Resection (DCR) improves outcomes of Rotator Cuff Repair (RCR) in terms of ROM, clinical scores as well as reducing complications and/or reoperations. This systematic review conforms to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they compared outcomes of RCR with and without adjuvant DCR and reported on postoperative ROM, clinical scores, complications, and/or reoperations. Seven studies that comprised 1572 shoulders which underwent RCR at a follow-up ranged 8-54 months: 398 with adjuvant DCR and 1174 without DCR. No significant differences were found between patients that had DCR versus those that did not have DCR, in terms of postoperative clinical scores (ASES, Constant, pVAS), postoperative ROM (AFE, external and internal rotation), retear rate and reoperation rate. There were no significant differences in ROM, clinical scores, or rates of retears and reoperations between patients that underwent RCR with or without adjuvant DCR. There is insufficient evidence to support routine DCR during RCR; the incidence of new or residual acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) pain after RCR with adjuvant DCR is higher than following isolated RCR, which could in fact induce iatrogenic morbidity and therefore does not justify the additional surgery time and costs of routine adjuvant DCR.