The effect of age on clinical, functional and quality of life outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in female patients

INTRODUCTION: In the literature, the effects of age and gender on rotator cuff repair (RCR) have been evaluated separately in many studies. In our study, we aimed to analyse the outcomes of female patients above and below the age of 60
METHODS: A total of 55 female patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) between 2018 and 2020 were examined retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to their age as Group 1 (<60 years) (n=21) and Group 2 (>60 years) (n=34). From the retrospective file information, the dominant side, the body mass index, whether the rupture was acute or chronic, and the duration of the symptoms were recorded. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant-Murley (CM) score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36) score were used in the evaluation of clinical functional and quality of life measurements
RESULTS: Pre-operative and postoperative CM, VAS, and ASES scores did not differ between groups (P> 0.05). When the SF-36 scores of both groups were evaluated, the difference was insignificant pre-operatively (P> 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found in favor of Group 1 in role limitations arising from emotional problems postoperatively, Energy/fatigue assessment, social functionality, pain assessment, and health change (P <0.05)
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Clinical and functional outcomes are not affected by age, whereas some quality of life domains become worse in patients over 60 years of age