Arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery might benefit older people, study finds

Repairing a rotator cuff tear via surgery can be a tough decision for older people -- not every surgeon wants to fix their tears that way, believing it may lead to longer healing time or poor outcomes. But a new study shows that people older than age of 70 had good results after arthroscopic surgery of their rotator cuff tears.

The study, published recently online in Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, looked at results two years after surgery among 39 people age 70 and older who had a full-thickness tear in their rotator cuff. The participants had already gone through more conservative treatment such as taking pain medication or undergoing a debridement, a procedure that removes dead or damaged tissue or foreign matter from an injured area.

Overall it was good news for patients afte rthe minimally invasive surgery: About 96% experienced significant pain reduction, and of the seven who were working before surgery, all returned to their jobs at pre-surgery levels.

Generally, range of motion improved substantially, as did muscle strength. The vast majority of patients said function had improved in their shoulders, and 94% said if they had to do it all over again they’d still have the surgery.

“In people over the age of 70, pain is the main issue, and pain relief is a fairly reliable outcome after surgery,” said Dr. Nikhil Verma, the study’s lead author, in a news release. Verma is an orthopedic surgeon at Rush Medical College in Chicago.

-- Jeannine Stein / Los Angeles Times