Outcome reporting after rotator cuff repair has been inconsistent, and statistical significance does not always mean a patient actually feels better. This retrospective study establishes the MCID, SCB, and PASS thresholds for the ASES, Constant, and SANE scores in 288 patients at 1 year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. It also identifies which patient and surgical factors predict failing to reach these clinically meaningful targets.
When a patient's ASES improves by 8 points after rotator cuff repair, is that a win? This paper gives you the number to answer that: the ASES MCID is about 11, so an 8-point change falls short of what patients actually perceive as meaningful.
These thresholds let you interpret outcomes studies and your own results beyond a p-value. An MCID tells you the smallest change a patient notices, SCB a substantial improvement, and PASS whether they have reached a satisfactory state.
The modifiable risk factors are the practical teaching point. Smokers had drastically lower odds of reaching ASES MCID, so smoking cessation belongs in preoperative counseling. Workers' compensation patients were less likely to reach a satisfactory state across all scores, which helps you set realistic expectations before surgery.
Use preoperative scores prognostically: lower baseline function predicts reaching MCID and SCB, while higher baseline predicts reaching PASS.
Outcome reporting after rotator cuff repair has been inconsistent, and statistical significance does not always mean a patient actually feels better. This retrospective study establishes the MCID, SCB, and PASS thresholds for the ASES, Constant, and SANE scores in 288 patients at 1 year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. It also identifies which patient and surgical factors predict failing to reach these clinically meaningful targets.
When a patient's ASES improves by 8 points after rotator cuff repair, is that a win? This paper gives you the number to answer that: the ASES MCID is about 11, so an 8-point change falls short of what patients actually perceive as meaningful.
These thresholds let you interpret outcomes studies and your own results beyond a p-value. An MCID tells you the smallest change a patient notices, SCB a substantial improvement, and PASS whether they have reached a satisfactory state.
The modifiable risk factors are the practical teaching point. Smokers had drastically lower odds of reaching ASES MCID, so smoking cessation belongs in preoperative counseling. Workers' compensation patients were less likely to reach a satisfactory state across all scores, which helps you set realistic expectations before surgery.
Use preoperative scores prognostically: lower baseline function predicts reaching MCID and SCB, while higher baseline predicts reaching PASS.