Failure of tendon healing after a rotator cuff repair is demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a fluid-filled defect within the tendon. The frequency of, and factors associated with, failure of the tendon repair to heal have been the focus of many clinical studies. The timing of when these defects occur has not been previously studied in a large prospectively defined patient population, to our knowledge. It was our hypothesis that the majority of failures occur within 12 weeks after surgery.
Retears primarily occur between 6 and 26 weeks after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and few additional tears occur thereafter. A substantial number of retears occur between 12 and 26 weeks after repair.
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Failure of tendon healing after a rotator cuff repair is demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a fluid-filled defect within the tendon. The frequency of, and factors associated with, failure of the tendon repair to heal have been the focus of many clinical studies. The timing of when these defects occur has not been previously studied in a large prospectively defined patient population, to our knowledge. It was our hypothesis that the majority of failures occur within 12 weeks after surgery.
Retears primarily occur between 6 and 26 weeks after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and few additional tears occur thereafter. A substantial number of retears occur between 12 and 26 weeks after repair.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.