1. Introduction
Rotator cuff tears are among the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders for which patients need therapy [
1,
2]. The etiology of rotator cuff tears is multifactorial [
1,
3]. It is due to the combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors whose relative contributions remain to be determined. Intrinsic factors result in progressive insults to the rotator cuff via tensile overload, aging, or microvascular supply. Extrinsic factors can damage the rotator cuff through compression of tendons by bony impingement or direct pressure from the surrounding soft tissue. Other factors, such as hyperglycaemia, diabetes, obesity or metabolic syndrome, and nicotine have been associated with rotator cuff tears.
Arthroscopic surgery is a valid therapeutic option that aims to repair rotator cuff tears [
4,
5], particularly in patients in whom conservative treatment has not produced good results in terms of shoulder pain and function. Although this surgical technique is widely spread, the ideal postoperative rehabilitation protocol is still debated. Timelines for immobilization, frequency, and ROM format after rotator cuff repair are not standardized [
6].
Postoperative rehabilitation goals are to preserve the repaired muscle and tendon and recover the biomechanics and functionality of the shoulder by balancing the scapulothoracic and glenohumeral force couples [
7]. Several factors, as age [
8,
9], diabetes [
10,
11], smoking [
12], activity level, topography and extent of the tear [
8], tendon quality, fatty infiltration, atrophy of muscles [
9,
12,
13,
14], and surgical repair approach [
15,
16] should be analyzed to choose the more suitable rehabilitation protocol. These variables can affect the repaired tendon’s healing process and the outcome [
17,
18,
19,
20,
21,
22].
After rotator cuff repair, several rehabilitation protocols have been described, and these are divided into those with early mobilization and those with delayed mobilization [
23,
24]. The early mobilization has the purpose of preventing postoperative stiffness, fatty infiltration, and muscle atrophy, but it may also decrease the possibility of tendon healing [
25,
26,
27]; on the contrary, delayed mobilization, theoretically, would protect the tendon healing, but it would increase the risk of stiffness. Moreover, in the literature, several studies have shown how most rotator cuff re-tears occur within 3 to 6 months after surgery, which supports delayed mobilization protocol [
28,
29]. This study aims to assess the clinical outcomes and tendon healing confirmed by MRI in patients who received arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff and a delayed postoperative physical therapy protocol that aimed to limit early passive movements. The hypothesis stated is that delayed motion after arthroscopic repair might reduce failure without adversely affecting ROM.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Inclusion criteria were age 45–70 years; symptomatic, atraumatic, and isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear confirmed with MRI, tear size ≤ 1 cm; complete ROM of the shoulder.
Exclusion criteria were prior shoulder surgery; glenohumeral osteoarthritis confirmed with radiological imaging; neurological disease or language barriers; tears involving 2 or 3 tendons; muscle fatty degeneration > of stage 2 according to Goutallier classification [
30]; muscle atrophy evaluated with Tangent sign, exceeding stage 2 [
31]; acute-on-chronic tears (after a traumatic event in a shoulder with preceding episodes of symptoms); impossibility to undergo MRI scan for any reason.
The sample size calculation was based on the OSS. Assuming an Effect Size 0.97 [
32] at a power of 80% with a significance level of 0.05, a total of 21 patients was required.
The study was approved by the local ethics committee (Ethics Committee Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Prot ComEt 37/16 CBM).
2.2. Operative Procedure
An experienced orthopaedic surgeon performed surgical procedures in all the patients. Diagnostic arthroscopy was followed by subacromial decompression and biceps tenotomy in all patients. The surgical repair was performed by one row of double-loaded suture anchors.
2.3. Postoperative Rehabilitation Protocol
During the first four weeks, the arm was supported with an abduction sling pillow, and pendulum exercises, table slide, and active elbow extension and flexion were allowed. Small circular pendulum exercises were performed using the torso to move the arm by rocking body weight. For table slide exercise, the patient slides the hand of the operated shoulder forward on a surface by advancing the chest towards the table. Patient started therapy four weeks after surgery, working with the therapist 1–3 x/week, and at home on the other days. From week 5 to 8, the patient performed passive forward elevation; passive external rotation; and from week 5, active-assisted ROM to tolerance. From week 8 to 10, the patient progressed towards active ROM to tolerance. After week 10, the patient began the rehabilitation of the deltoid, scapular stabilizers, and the rotator cuff with concentric and eccentric exercise strengthening
Postoperative rehabilitation protocol was standardized. An illustrated handbook with detailed instruction of exercise and timing was given to patients and therapists. During outpatient visits, the frequency of supervised and home therapy was checked and registered.
The details of the postoperative physical therapy protocol are listed in
Table 1.
2.4. Outcome Measures
The clinical outcomes that were measured are the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMS), in particular, the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and the Simple shoulder test (SST), and the patient-reported satisfaction preoperatively and 12 months [
33,
34].
2.5. Shoulder Function
Shoulder ROM and muscle strength were measured both before the surgery and at 1-year follow-up. With the patient in a supine position, the ranges of passive anterior elevation, external and internal rotation were measured using a standard universal goniometer; whereas muscle strength during active anterior elevation, external and internal rotation was measured with a dynamometer [
37]. Two orthopaedic surgeons, who were familiarized with the procedure, performed all measurement following a standardized methodology [
37]. The procedure started with goniometric measurements of ROM in different positions. Supine position guaranteed stabilization of the scapula and trunk. One examiner performed passive ROM, and the other examiner handled the goniometer to perform the measurement. Subsequently, strength measurements with dynamometer were performed during active anterior elevation and external and internal rotation.
2.6. MRI Examination of Cuff Healing
The MRI scans were acquired by sagittal oblique, spin-echo coronal oblique, and axial T2-weighted image [repetition time (RT): 3200 ms; echo time (ET): 85 ms] both pre-operation and 1-year follow-up. Preoperatively, the location, size, and thickness of rotator cuff tears were recorded. Postoperatively MRI was used to assess cuff integrity. Whether there was a gap in the rotator cuff at MRI scans, a retear condition was defined.
4. Discussion
There is no formal consensus about which is the best rehabilitation protocol of surgically repaired rotator cuff. This study aimed to assess clinical outcomes and tendon healing in patients that performed a delayed postoperative physical therapy protocol that limited early passive movements after rotator cuff repair. We observed good clinical outcomes and shoulder ROM in patients undergone delayed motion after arthroscopic repair. This study did not allow deriving absolute conclusions about the best rehabilitation protocol of surgically repaired rotator cuff, but it is the first step to carry on further studies.
Retear and stiffness are the main concerns of postoperative rehabilitation after rotator cuff repair. The failure to heal or the risk of retear after surgical repair of small to intermediate tears are relatively frequent and range from 7% to 41% [
14,
28,
29,
38,
39]. For massive tears, many studies have shown worrisome re-tear rates ranging from 20 to 94%, often associated with poor clinical outcomes [
40,
41,
42]. The postoperative period between six and twenty-six weeks is a risky period where the possibility of failure of tendon healing or retear is more frequent. In fact, Ahmad et al. highlight that at six weeks post-surgery, there is 152 times the risk of re-tear; meanwhile, at 26 weeks, there is 40 times the risk of re-tear [
43]. Retears of massive lesion have been observed to occur earlier than small or intermediate ones [
18,
44,
45]. From a biomechanical point of view, normal levels of elasticity or strength of the repaired tendon are not restored until at least six months after surgery [
46,
47]. This is the reason why prevent excessive loading, and judicious use of ROM is generally suggested.
On the other hand, stiffness should be suspected especially in the first three months after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair [
48,
49]. Several authors recommended early passive range of motion after rotator cuff repair to decrease the possibility of developing potential adhesion and stiffness [
50,
51,
52]. Animal studies showed that the sharpay fibres, which are responsible for maintaining the repair, appear after 12 weeks and, up to the 15 weeks, the bone-tendon junction is still not quite mature [
53]. Furthermore, early movement restriction did not result in long-term stiffness after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and may improve tendon healing rate [
54]. An exuberant healing response has been observed in patients with shoulder stiffness [
55].
To date, there is no consensus about which is the best rehabilitation protocol of surgically repaired rotator cuff, and available studies are heterogeneous in terms of timelines for immobilization and ROM restrictions, precluding the possibility to reach definitive conclusions and recommendations [
24]. Cuff et al. compared early and delayed passive motion demonstrating that there are no significant differences in terms of patient satisfaction, rotator cuff healing, or range of motion between the two groups. Furthermore, the study showed a slightly higher rotator cuff healing rate in favour of patients who received a delayed passive movement protocol. Conversely, a lower trend towards retear rates was observed in the group that received an early rehabilitation protocol [
56]. Riboh and Garrigues compared early and delayed rehabilitation protocol and concluded that there was no difference in cuff re-tears rates at one year for patients with tears less than 3 cm [
57]. Kluczynski, showed an increased risk of cuff tear recurrence in patients with large tears between 3 cm and 5 cm who underwent an early rehabilitation protocol [
58].
In this study, we observed that OSS, SST and shoulder function of patients undergone delayed postoperative physical therapy protocol improved compared to the preoperative state, and postoperative MRI demonstrated rotator cuff healing. Pendulum exercise and table slide are a good choice for early mobilization because they produce only low levels of supraspinatus contraction reducing the risk of recalcitrant postoperative stiffness in patients with risk factors as calcific tendinitis or adhesive capsulitis. Moreover, those exercises are easy for patients to perform, and the delayed need for postoperative rehabilitation professional may be economically advantageous.
We note that the patient’s compliance with the rehabilitation program is essential. This observation was empirical and needs further objective evaluations that will be the subject of future studies. Communication and coordination between the surgeon, rehabilitation professional and patient were critical to optimize outcomes. However, it is evident for those who face with patients, that compliance with a rehabilitation program is challenging to obtain and to monitor. Patients do not always follow the limits of shoulder movement. In particular, those with high expectations for their return to activity tend to move their shoulder earlier to accelerate the rehabilitation process. Despite that, they can experience good clinical results. Moreover, daily shoulder motions, such as brushing teeth, combing hair, cooking, and eating, can contribute to the rehabilitation and should be considered as additional exercises. At present, the effect of the rehabilitation program and daily shoulder motions on tendon healing is not known. There is an urgent need to improve rehabilitation monitoring, providing the surgeon with a practical and easy way to check the patient’s compliance and personalize rehabilitation protocol based on the feedback of shoulder motion.
This study has several strengths. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria allowed selecting a homogeneous population of patients with symptomatic, atraumatic and isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear, size ≤ 1 cm, rather than patients with generic rotator cuff tears. This element is of relevance since the response to treatment can likely be influenced by the underlying characteristics of rotator cuff tears. Specific and validated outcome measures were used to collect the outcomes of delayed postoperative physical therapy protocol after rotator cuff surgery. This made it possible to obtain easily understandable and shareable data, which can be directly compared with those already available, as well as usable for future studies and meta-analyses. The use of MRI provides an objective method to demonstrate rotator cuff integrity or retear. Definition of retear based on MRI is of relevance as not all patients with retear complain of pain or functional limitation [
59].
The main weakness of this study was the lack of a control group. However, the key aim was not to draw absolute conclusions about delayed postoperative physical therapy after rotator cuff surgery but rather to consider whether the use of a delayed postoperative physical therapy is associated with good clinical outcomes and tendon healing.
