Comparison of Open Versus Arthroscopic Repair for Subscapularis Tendon Tears With or Without Concomitant Supraspinatus Tendon Tears

BACKGROUND: The literature comparing open and arthroscopic repair of subscapularis tendon (ST) tears is insufficient. PURPOSE: To compare the clinical results of open versus arthroscopic repair of ST tears with or without concomitant supraspinatus tears. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 70 patients treated for isolated ST tears and ST tears with concomitant supraspinatus tendon tears at a single center between 2011 and 2019. Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who underwent open ST repairs (group O) and those with an arthroscopic ST repair (group A). Range of motion (ROM), liftoff and belly-press tests, and Constant-Murley (CM) scores were included in the pre- and postoperative functional evaluations. The minimal clinically important difference was calculated using the anchor-based method for changes in CM score. Tear size was evaluated according to the Lafosse classification. The categorical data were assessed using the Pearson chi-square, Fisher exact, and Fisher-Freeman-Halton tests. The parametric and nonparametric data were evaluated using the Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test, respectively. The dependent groups (for nonnormally distributed data) were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS: Group O included 34 patients, and group A included 36 patients. The mean age was 62.9 years, and the mean follow-up period was 66.7 months. Even though group O exhibited a significantly better preoperative CM score (53.7 ± 4.6 vs 48.9 ± 6.8 [mean ± SD]; P = .001), group A had a significantly better postoperative CM score (88.7 ± 4.7 vs 84.6 ± 2.9; P < .001). Our measurements revealed a minimal clinically important difference of 11.5 points for the CM score. Group A had significantly greater postoperative ROM in abduction (153° vs 143.9°; P = .005) and forward elevation (159.1° vs 149.7°; P = .005), as well as significantly greater postoperative improvement in positive belly-press test results (P = .028). Complications occurred in 4 patients in group O and in 1 patient in group A. CONCLUSION: The study findings indicated that arthroscopic ST repair was more advantageous than open repair in terms of ROM and functional outcomes.