The effect of postoperative sling immobilization and early mobilization on clinical and functional outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: A propensity score-matched analysis.

Abstract

Optimal postoperative management is controversial after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). The aim of the study was to evaluate outcomes of patients with and without postoperative sling immobilization after undergoing arthroscopic RCR rotator cuff repair. 369 arthroscopic full thickness superior rotator cuff tears (RCT) with a minimum follow-up of 6 months were included in this study. Propensity score matching was performed for age, sex, BMI, and tear size. Pain (VAS score), shoulder range of motion (ROM), functional outcome (ASES, Constant-Murley [CM] and Oxford shoulder score [OSS]), and health related quality of life (SF-36) scores were compared between patients with and without sling immobilization. According to the propensity match score, 92 patients (50 sling immobilization and 42 no sling immobilization) were matched to be almost identical in age (62.5 ± 8.0 vs. 61.8 ± 5.9), sex (female 78% vs. 76.2%), BMI (28.1 ± 2.8 vs. 27.8 ± 2.6), and tear size (2.7 ± 1.1 vs. 2.9 ± 0.8). The postoperative physical functioning domain of SF-36 scores was found to be significantly higher in the no sling group (p= 0.034). Early mobilization after arthroscopic small and medium sized full thickness superior rotator cuff repair is associated with improved ROM and quality of life scores.