Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Which Patients Will Benefit from Physiotherapy Exercise Programs? A Narrative Review

Eoin Ó Conaire (), Ruth Delaney, Alexandre Lädermann, Ariane Schwank and Filip Struyf
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Eoin Ó Conaire: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy/MOVANT, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Ruth Delaney: Dublin Shoulder Institute, Sports Surgery Clinic, Santry, D09 C523 Dublin, Ireland
Alexandre Lädermann: Division of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, La Tour Hospital, 1217 Meyrin, Switzerland
Ariane Schwank: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy/MOVANT, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Filip Struyf: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy/MOVANT, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears can cause significant shoulder pain, disability and reduction in quality of life. Treatment approaches can be operative or non-operative. Operative approaches include reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, arthroscopic debridement, partial rotator cuff repair, subacromial balloon spacers, superior capsule reconstruction, and tendon transfer procedures. Non-operative approaches include physiotherapy exercise programs and corticosteroid injections. There are no randomized controlled trials comparing the different treatment approaches. It is therefore challenging for clinicians to advise patients on what is their best treatment pathway. Physiotherapy exercise programs are less expensive and have lower risks for patients than surgical approaches. However, the success of physiotherapy in patients with massive irreparable rotator cuff tears is highly variable with published success rates of 32–96%. Several cohort studies have sought to identify if certain factors are predictive of success with physiotherapy. Several biomechanical factors were identified as possibly being related to a successful or unsuccessful outcome following physiotherapy, with complete tear of subscapularis demonstrating the strongest evidence. However, there were no appropriately designed prognostic studies. There has been a strong emphasis on biomechanical factors. Other domains such as psychosocial factors, which are important in similar patient populations, have not been explored. We recommend that further research is needed in this area and should include randomized controlled trials comparing treatment approaches and longitudinal prospective prognostic studies to identify predictors of treatment success.

Keywords: review; massive; rotator cuff; irreparable; conservative treatment; non-operative; physiotherapy; rehabilitation; prognosis; prognostic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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