Findings published online in the journal Arthroscopy assess risk of adverse events and return to the operating room (OR) during the initial 30-day postoperative period for patients undergoing open or arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR). 

The research team reviewed information on 16,472 RCR patients from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. They found that patients undergoing open RCR were more likely to be aged 65 years or older, and have comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, smoking, and alcoholism. Overall, patients undergoing open RCR had a higher risk of any adverse event when compared with arthroscopic RCR patients, and were at increased risk of return to the OR within 30 days. The research team notes that open RCR was associated with a longer average hospital stay, while arthroscopic RCR was linked to a longer average operative time. Learn more...