Swiss Study: Shoulder Tendon Rupture After Surgery Does Not Mean Procedure Failure

A Swiss medical study has shown that the recurrence of shoulder tendon tears after surgical repair does not necessarily imply a decline in shoulder function, as patients without accompanying symptoms can achieve good functional outcomes compared to those who maintained tendon integrity after surgery.

The scientific journal "Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research" reported in a study published yesterday Saturday that the research was conducted by a multi-center Swiss team led by researcher Laurent Audigé, involving 543 patients from nine specialized orthopedic surgery centers, aiming to study the relationship between tendon re-tear and functional outcomes after arthroscopic repair surgery.

The results indicated that patients who experienced re-tears without symptoms achieved functional outcomes comparable to patients whose repair surgery successfully maintained tendon integrity, while those with tears accompanied by pain and clinical symptoms recorded a decline in mobility and ability to perform daily activities.

The research team included specialists from the University Hospital and the University of Basel, Schulthess Clinic in Zurich, Canton Hospital Winterthur, and EndoClinic in Switzerland, in addition to researchers from Charité Medical University in Berlin, Germany. Among the most prominent participants was researcher Andreas Mark Müller from the University of Basel and its University Hospital.

The researchers pointed out that evaluating the outcomes of shoulder tendon surgery should not rely solely on medical imaging, but must take into account the patient's symptoms, their ability to move their shoulder, and perform daily activities, as the appearance of a recurrent tear does not necessarily mean surgical repair failure from a functional perspective.

The study highlights the importance of clinical follow-up for patients after shoulder surgeries, linking medical imaging results with the patient's actual condition to determine the need for additional therapeutic intervention.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)