Septuagenarians aged 75 years and older do benefit from arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a propensity matched-pair analysis

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies show that patients who failed conservative management, benefit from open, mini open and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). However, there is a paucity of literature addressing ARCR and outcomes in patients older than the age of 75 years. The purpose of our study was to compare the outcomes of ARCR in patients older than 75 years and younger than 75 years of age. METHODS: Between January 2010 and December 2016, 397 patients underwent unilateral ARCR; of which, 23 patients were 75 years of age and older. Outcome measures recorded include the Constant Shoulder Score (CSS), University of California, Los Angeles Shoulder Score (UCLASS), Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain assessment. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in VAS, CSS, and UCLASS between the two groups at all time points of follow-up (all P > .05). At 2 years after surgery, the OSS was 2 ± 5 points better in the <75 group (P = .012). However, the improvement in OSS was comparable between both groups. The improvement in VAS, CSS, and UCLASS at 2 years after surgery compared with baseline was also similar between the two groups (all P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The improvement in VAS, CSS, and UCLASS was similar in both groups of patients. We conclude that septuagenarians with symptomatic cuff tears, who have failed conservative management, experience significant improvement in pain, and function after surgery and should not be excluded from the benefits of ARCR.