Clinical Outcomes after Rotator Cuff Repair

• Improved Arm Strength and Function by 11.1 PROM score points
• Reduction in Pain by 11.4 PROM score points
• Improved Mental Health by 5.5 PROM score points

Henry Ford uses Patient-Reported outcome measures (PROMs) or PROMIS scores to track the satisfaction and recovery of our patients after surgery. PROMIS scores interpret your perceptions of pain, physical function and general mood with a series of targeted questions. Here’s what our patients had to say about their outcomes after undergoing Rotator Cuff Repair (RCR) surgery.

Improved Arm Strength and Function

To determine improved arm strength and function, our patients were asked questions such as:

• Are you able to open a new milk carton?
• Are you able to pick up coins from a tabletop?
• Are you able to put on a shirt or a blouse?

As shown in the graph, our patients had a significant improvement of 11.1 points in upper extremity function after their rotator cuff repair. A sample of 110 patients, on average, reported feeling more physically capable six months after surgery as compared to before surgery.

Reduction in Pain

To determine improvements in pain, our patients were asked questions such as:

• How much does pain interfere with your enjoyment of life?
• How much does pain interfere with your ability to concentrate?
• How often does pain make you feel anxious?

As shown in the graph, our patients showed an 11.4 point decrease in pain after their RCR. A sample of 110 patients, on average, reported feeling less discomfort six months after surgery as compared to before surgery.

Improved Mental Health

To determine improvements in mental health, our patients were asked questions such as:

• Have you felt in low spirits or sad?
• Have you lost interest in your daily activities?
• Have you felt subdued or slowed down?

As shown in the graph, our patients experienced an improvement in their mental health after receiving surgery at Henry Ford. PROMIS Scores from 110 our patients reported that, on average, feelings of depression decreased 5.5 points from before surgery to six months after surgery. This can also be interpreted as an overall improvement in quality of life due to their improved arm mobility and decreased feelings of pain.

Read the original published research paper here.

Fisk F, Franovic S, Tramer JS, Gulledge C, Kuhlmann NA, Chen C, Moutzouros V, Muh S, Makhni EC. PROMIS CAT forms demonstrate responsiveness in patients following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair across numerous health domains. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2019 Dec;28(12):2427-2432. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2019.04.055. Epub 2019 Aug 14. PMID: 31420223.