Clinical outcomes and cost–utility of rotator cuff repair surgery by open and arthroscopic techniques: study protocol for a randomised clinical trial

INTRODUCTION: Rotator cuff injuries account for up to 70% of pain in the shoulder. However, there remains no consensus on the best surgical treatment for patients with rotator cuff injuries, in terms of the cost-effectiveness and cost–utility of open and arthroscopic methods for rotator cuff repair. The objective of this trial is to compare the efficacy, cost-effectiveness and cost–utility of open and arthroscopic procedures for rotator cuff repair. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The trial is a two-group, parallel-design, randomised controlled trial. A total of 100 patients with symptomatic rotator cuff lesions will be allocated in either open or arthroscopic technique in a 1:1 ratio, considering smoking (yes or no), lesion size (≤3 cm or >3 cm) and diabetes (present or absent) as stratification factors. All patients will be included in the same rehabilitation programme after the intervention. The primary outcome measure will be the Constant-Murley Score and the EuroQol-5D-3L score at 48 weeks postsurgery. Secondary outcomes include cost-effectiveness, cost–utility, pain, complications and clinical analysis, using the Simple Shoulder Test, Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS), integrity of the repair evaluated through MRI, and complications and failures of the proposed methods. For the cost-effectiveness analysis, we will use the VAS and the Constant-Murley Score as measures of effectiveness. For the cost–utility analysis, we will use the EuroQol-5D-3L as a measure of utility in terms of incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-years. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the local research ethics committee of both institutions: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and Hospital Alvorada Moema/Hospital Pró-Cardíaco. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed, open access journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04146987.