- Email: [email protected]
Editorial Commentary: How Do We Tell Patients Their Rotator Cuff Tear Is Massive?
Editorial Commentary: How Do We Tell Patients Their Rotator Cuff Tear Is Massive?
Abstract: Surgeons may tell patients that arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tear results in clear improvement in patient outcomes. However, a limitation of the medical literature is that pooled findings may not be generalizable to all patients.
See related article on page 2472
H
ow do we tell our patients that their rotator cuff tear is massive? Massive means very large and heavy in amount or degree and is obviously very severe. “Your tear is massive,” could be tough news to for an empathetic arthroscopic surgeon to communicate. Patients are bound to be bummed. Fortunately, according to “Arthroscopic repair for chronic massive rotator cuff tears: A systematic review”1 by Henry, Wasserstein, Park, Chahal, Dwyer, Slobogean, and Schemitsch from the Universities of Toronto and Maryland, we can tell patients that after surgery they can generally expect their pain to decrease from 6 to 2 on the pain scale, and they can typically expect excellent motion and improved function, although research imaging often shows that most massive tear repairs will retear. Finally, we might mention that the review on
which we base our comments is generalizable to massive tears, but that each patient is different, as is each surgery, so their outcome may be better or worse than what is broadly predicted.2 James H. Lubowitz, M.D. Editor-in-Chief
References 1. Henry P, Wasserstein D, Park S, Dwyer T, Chahal J, Slobogean G, Schemitsch E. Arthroscopic repair for chronic massive rotator cuff tears: A systematic review. Arthroscopy 2015;31:2472-2480. 2. Karlsson J, Marx RG, Nakamura N, Bhandari M. A practical guide to research: Design, execution, and publication. Arthroscopy 2011;27:S1-S112 (suppl).
Ó 2015 by the Arthroscopy Association of North America 0749-8063/15913/$36.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2015.09.004
Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 31, No 12 (December), 2015: p 2481
2481
Abstract: Surgeons may tell patients that arthroscopic repair of massive rotator cuff tear results in clear improvement in patient outcomes. However, a limitation of the medical literature is that pooled findings may not be generalizable to all patients.
See related article on page 2472
H
ow do we tell our patients that their rotator cuff tear is massive? Massive means very large and heavy in amount or degree and is obviously very severe. “Your tear is massive,” could be tough news to for an empathetic arthroscopic surgeon to communicate. Patients are bound to be bummed. Fortunately, according to “Arthroscopic repair for chronic massive rotator cuff tears: A systematic review”1 by Henry, Wasserstein, Park, Chahal, Dwyer, Slobogean, and Schemitsch from the Universities of Toronto and Maryland, we can tell patients that after surgery they can generally expect their pain to decrease from 6 to 2 on the pain scale, and they can typically expect excellent motion and improved function, although research imaging often shows that most massive tear repairs will retear. Finally, we might mention that the review on
which we base our comments is generalizable to massive tears, but that each patient is different, as is each surgery, so their outcome may be better or worse than what is broadly predicted.2 James H. Lubowitz, M.D. Editor-in-Chief
References 1. Henry P, Wasserstein D, Park S, Dwyer T, Chahal J, Slobogean G, Schemitsch E. Arthroscopic repair for chronic massive rotator cuff tears: A systematic review. Arthroscopy 2015;31:2472-2480. 2. Karlsson J, Marx RG, Nakamura N, Bhandari M. A practical guide to research: Design, execution, and publication. Arthroscopy 2011;27:S1-S112 (suppl).
Ó 2015 by the Arthroscopy Association of North America 0749-8063/15913/$36.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2015.09.004
Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 31, No 12 (December), 2015: p 2481
2481