This meta-analysis of 14 Level-I and Level-II studies (861 patients) asks whether structural healing after rotator cuff repair actually translates into better pain relief and function for patients, using validated outcome measures and their established MCID thresholds to judge clinical importance.
When a patient has a retear on postoperative MRI but reports meaningful pain relief and functional improvement, the imaging finding alone does not define failure — counsel them using validated MCID thresholds, not structural status.
Reserve re-operation discussions for patients with objectively poor functional scores or significant strength deficits, not for imaging findings in isolation.
This meta-analysis of 14 Level-I and Level-II studies (861 patients) asks whether structural healing after rotator cuff repair actually translates into better pain relief and function for patients, using validated outcome measures and their established MCID thresholds to judge clinical importance.
When a patient has a retear on postoperative MRI but reports meaningful pain relief and functional improvement, the imaging finding alone does not define failure — counsel them using validated MCID thresholds, not structural status.
Reserve re-operation discussions for patients with objectively poor functional scores or significant strength deficits, not for imaging findings in isolation.