Effects of Preexisting Depression and Anxiety on Postoperative Outcomes following Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Association Between Preoperative Patient Resilience and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Rotator Cuff Repair

Background

Mental and emotional health can affect outcomes after orthopaedic surgery, and patient resilience has been found to be significantly related to postoperative functional outcomes.

Purpose

To evaluate the relationship between preoperative patient resilience and 2-year postoperative patient-reported outcomes after rotator cuff repair (RCR). It was hypothesized that patients with low preoperative resilience will have worse patient-reported outcomes at 2 years after RCR versus those with high resilience.

Study Design

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods

Patients who underwent primary arthroscopic RCR in 2020 at a single institution and completed the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) preoperatively were identified. Other inclusion criteria were American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) scores at the 2-year follow-up. Outcomes were compared in patients as divided into low resilience (BRS score >1 SD below the mean), normal resilience (BRS score ≤1 SD of the mean), and high resilience (BRS score >1 SD above the mean) groups.

Results

Overall, 100 patients (52 male, 48 female; mean age, 60 ± 9 years) were included in this study. Mean BRS scores did not change significantly from preoperative to 2-year follow-up (3.8 ± 0.7 vs 3.9 ± 0.8, P = .404). All patients had preoperative ASES scores. Low-resilience patients (n = 17) had significantly lower preoperative ASES scores compared with normal (n = 64) and high resilience (n = 19) patients (35 vs 42 vs 54, respectively; P = .022). There were no significant group differences in postoperative outcomes (revision rate, ASES score, ASES score improvement from preoperative to 2-year follow-up, or SANE score). Multivariate analysis indicated that preoperative resilience was not significantly associated with ASES score improvement (β estimate = -5.64, P = .150), while resilience at 2-year follow-up was significantly related to ASES score improvement (β estimate = 6.41, P = .031).

Conclusion

Patient-reported outcomes at 2-year follow-up did not differ based on preoperative patient resilience for arthroscopic RCR patients. Multivariate analysis also showed that preoperative resilience was not associated with improvement in ASES scores; however, resilience at 2-year follow-up was associated with ASES score improvement.

What are the common factors that lead to the failure to achieve minimal clinically important difference after shoulder surgery? A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

The goal of this research is to identify the factors that negatively impact the achievement of the minimum clinically significant change (MCID) for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score within the realm of various orthopedic shoulder procedures.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive review of studies published from 2002 to 2023, utilizing OvidMedline and PubMed databases. Our search criteria included terms such as "minimal clinically important difference" or "MCID" along with associated MeSH terms, in addition to "American shoulder and elbow surgeon" or "ASES." We selectively included primary investigations that assessed factors linked to the failure to achieve MCID for the ASES score subsequent to orthopedic shoulder procedures, while excluding papers addressing anatomical, surgical, or injury-related aspects.

RESULTS

Our analysis identified 149 full-text articles, leading to the inclusion of 12 studies for detailed analysis. The selected studies investigated outcomes following various orthopedic shoulder procedures, encompassing biceps tenodesis, total shoulder arthroplasty, and rotator cuff repair. Notably, factors, such as gender, body mass index, diabetes, smoking habits, opioid usage, depression, anxiety, workers' compensation, occupational satisfaction, and the preoperative ASES score, were all associated with the inability to attain MCID.

CONCLUSION

In summary, numerous factors exert a negative influence on the attainment of MCID following shoulder procedures, and these factors appear to be irrespective of the specific surgical technique employed. Patients presenting with these factors may perceive their surgical outcomes as less successful when compared to those without these factors. Identifying these factors can enable healthcare providers to provide more effective counseling to patients regarding their expected outcomes and rehabilitation course. Furthermore, these findings can aid in the development of a screening tool to better identify these risk factors and optimize them before surgery.

The significance of subjective mechanical symptoms in rotator cuff pathology

BACKGROUND

The presence of subjective mechanical symptoms, such as clicking or popping, is common in patients presenting for shoulder pain and dysfunction, with unclear clinical significance. The primary objective of this study was to assess whether subjective mechanical symptoms in the affected shoulder were associated with full-thickness rotator cuff tearing in a consecutive, prospective cohort of patients undergoing shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for suspected rotator cuff pathology.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study was performed of 100 consecutive patients with suspected rotator cuff tendinopathy and/or tearing who underwent shoulder MRI. The presence of subjective shoulder mechanical symptoms, including clicking or popping, was documented prior to MRI. Indications for MRI included weakness on isolated testing of rotator cuff muscle(s) or symptoms refractory to conservative treatment including at least a 6-week course of physical therapy. The primary outcome variable was the presence of full-thickness rotator cuff tearing; secondary outcome variables included any (full-thickness or partial-thickness) rotator cuff tearing and biceps long head subluxation. Radiographic parameters, including critical shoulder angle, Goutallier grade, tear retraction, and tear size were quantified. One patient was lost to follow-up, and 99 patients completed MRI imaging.

RESULTS

In our cohort, 60% of patients reported subjective mechanical symptoms in the affected shoulder. Full-thickness rotator cuff tearing was identified in 42% of patients, any rotator cuff tearing in 69% of patients, and biceps long head subluxation in 14% of patients. Subjective mechanical symptoms were not associated with full-thickness rotator cuff tearing, any rotator cuff tearing, biceps long head subluxation, critical shoulder angle, Goutallier grade, tear size, or tear retraction. Older age was associated with full-thickness and any rotator cuff tearing. As a diagnostic test for full-thickness rotator cuff tearing, subjective shoulder mechanical symptoms has a sensitivity of 64%, a specificity of 44%, and Youden's index of 0.08, consistent with poor diagnostic accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjective mechanical symptoms in the affected shoulder are a common complaint in patients with suspected rotator cuff pathology. Patients may be reassured that a sensation of clicking or popping alone does not necessarily entail structural shoulder derangement.

A threshold of lower preoperative mental health is associated with decreased achievement of comfort and capability benchmarks following rotator cuff repair: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Preoperative biomedical patient characteristics are known to affect the time to achievement of clinically significant outcomes (CSOs) following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR). However, less is known about the association between preoperative mental status and the time to achievement of CSOs. We hypothesize that higher preoperative mental status is associated with faster achievement of CSOs following arthroscopic RCR.

METHODS

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected preoperatively and at postoperative intervals up to 2 years. PROMs included pain visual analog scale (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12) scores. Threshold values for CSOs were obtained from previous literature. Mean time to achievement of CSOs was calculated using a Kaplan-Meier analysis. A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to identify preoperative variables associated with earlier achievement of CSOs.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients with an average age of 59 ± 8 years were included. Patients with higher preoperative mental status, as measured by VR-12 mental component summary (MCS), experienced significantly earlier substantial pain improvement postoperatively (P = .0471). Patients with higher preoperative mental status also achieved CSOs for physical health at earlier time points (P = .0187). Preoperative VR-12 MCS scores ≥ 40 were associated with earlier achievement of CSOs for pain (P = .0005) and physical health (P = .0015). Ninety-eight percent of patients with preoperative MCS scores ≥40 achieved acceptable pain relief at 4.5 months vs. 56% of all other patients at 12.3 months (P = .0001). Patients with preoperative MCS scores ≥40 experienced significantly faster improvement in physical health compared to patients with preoperative MCS scores <40 (P = .0006).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher preoperative mental status, especially a preoperative MCS score ≥40, is associated with significantly faster improvement in pain and physical function following arthroscopic RCR. Nearly all patients (98%) with preoperative MCS score ≥40 achieved an acceptable state of pain relief compared with only 56% of patients with preoperative MCS score <40. These findings indicate that a holistic approach with equal consideration of preoperative mental health and rotator cuff pathophysiology is vital to the successful management of rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Predictors of pain development for contralateral asymptomatic degenerative rotator cuff tears based on features of an ipsilateral painful cuff tear: a prospective longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND

Prior rotator cuff disease natural history studies have focused on tear-related factors that predict disease progression within a given shoulder. The purpose of this study was to examine both patient- and tear-related characteristics of a painful rotator cuff tear that predict future pain development and functional impairment in a shoulder with a contralateral asymptomatic cuff tear.

METHODS

This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study of patients aged ≤65 years who underwent surgery for a painful degenerative rotator cuff tear and possessed an asymptomatic contralateral tear. Patients were followed up prospectively by shoulder ultrasound, physical examination, and functional score assessment. The primary outcome was change in the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score at 2 years. Secondary outcomes included the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) score, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) score, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) depression and anxiety scores, and Veterans RAND-12 (VR-12) mental component score (MCS).

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients were included, with a mean follow-up period of 37 months (range, 24-42 months). In 17 patients (26%), contralateral shoulder pain developed at a median of 15.2 months (interquartile range [IQR], 10.5 months). No difference in age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, or occupational demand was noted between patients in whom pain developed and those in whom pain did not develop. In the presenting painful shoulder, there was no difference in baseline tear size, muscle degeneration, or biceps pathology between groups. The mean baseline tear length (8.6 mm vs. 3.8 mm, P = .0008) and width (8.4 mm vs. 3.2 mm, P = .0004) were larger in asymptomatic shoulders in which pain subsequently developed compared with those in which pain did not develop. However, there was no difference in mean tear enlargement (P = .51 for length and P = .90 for width). There were no differences in baseline ASES, WORC, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), or HADS depression and anxiety scores between shoulders in which pain developed and those in which pain did not develop; however, patients in whom pain developed reported a lower baseline VR-12 MCS (53.3 vs. 57.6, P = .04). Shoulders in which pain developed had higher visual analog scale pain scores (2.9 [standard deviation (SD), 2.5] vs. 0.6 [SD, 1.0]; P = .016), lower ASES scores 75 [SD, 33] vs. 100 [SD, 11.6]; P = .001), and significant changes in all WORC scales with pain onset compared with those that remained asymptomatic. The study showed no significant difference in changes in the HADS anxiety and depression scores but found a significant increase in the VR-12 MCS in patients in whom pain developed (7.1 [interquartile range, 12.6] vs. -1.9 [interquartile range, 8.7]; P = .036).

CONCLUSION

In one-quarter of patients with painful cuff tears, pain developed in a contralateral asymptomatic cuff tear that resulted in a measurable decline in function within 3 years. Our analysis showed that only the baseline tear size of the asymptomatic shoulder was predictive of pain development. There were no tear-related features of the presenting painful rotator cuff tear or indices of mental health and physical function or occupational demand that were predictive of future pain development at short-term follow-up.

Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms Correlated to Patient-Reported Outcome Measures after Rotator Cuff Repair: A Prospective Study in the Perioperative Period

Anxiety and depressive symptoms adversely affect surgical outcomes in patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) undergoing surgical repair. Patients without a diagnosis of mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, before rotator cuff repair (RCR) can be considered an optimal candidate for surgery. The objective of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the relationship between anxiety and depressive symptoms, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) as an assessment tool, and patient-reported outcome measures in RCT after repair surgery. This study included patients with RCT undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR). Forty-three patients were included who had completed the HADS, Constant Murley Score (CMS), and Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36) questionnaires before surgery and in the postoperative follow-up, at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The Friedman test showed that there were statistically significant changes in the different times point for HADS (p < 0.001), anxiety subscale of HADS, i.e., HADS-A (p < 0.001), depression subscale of HADS, i.e., HADS-D (p < 0.001), CMS (p < 0.001), and SF-36 (p < 0.001). The average scores of HADS, HADS-A, and HADS-D improved at each follow-up, showing improvement in discomfort. From the third month after surgery, there was an improvement in anxiety and depression disorders related to improved quality of life, functionality, and pain perception. The trend remained stable until the sixth month of follow up. This study shows that anxiety and depressive symptoms in RCT patients are significantly reduced after RCR with subsequent important improvements in terms of functionality, ability to carry out activities of daily living, perceived pain, and quality of life.