| Abstract: |
Background: There is currently no consensus on which rehabilitation regimen is preferable for which patients after rotator cuff repair (RCR). The aim of this study was to evaluate which preoperatively measurable factors are considered relevant by experts of the German, Austrian and Swiss Shoulder and Elbow Society (DVSE) in choosing a rehabilitation plan after RCR. Methods: Members of the DVSE who had gained expert status in the society were queried via an online questionnaire. The survey consisted of 23 preoperatively measurable sociodemographic, patient-specific, and shoulder-specific factors that had been identified in a previous literature review. The experts were asked to assess each factor as either relevant in favor of choosing a progressive rehabilitation plan, relevant in favor of choosing a regressive rehabilitation plan, or irrelevant in their decision-making process. Results: A total of 61 experts completed the entire survey. Active smoking status, older age, diabetes mellitus, pseudoparalysis, increased tendon retraction, greater tear size, high degree of fatty infiltration, tendon delamination, and involvement of more than one tendon were selected by the majority of the participants as relevant in favor of a regressive rehabilitation protocol. Shoulder stiffness was the only factor selected by the majority as relevant in favor of a progressive rehabilitation protocol. Conclusion: Active smoking status, older age, diabetes mellitus, pseudoparalysis, increased tendon retraction, greater tear size, high degree of fatty infiltration, tendon delamination, and involvement of more than one tendon were viewed as relevant factors in favor of a regressive rehabilitation protocol, while shoulder stiffness was viewed as the only relevant factor in favor of a progressive rehabilitation protocol. Shoulder surgeons should consider these factors when deciding on rehabilitation after RCR. |
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