Factors affecting healing after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Core Tip

Core tip: Many factors, both patient and surgeon related, can influence healing after repair. Older age, larger tear size, worse muscle quality, greater muscle-tendon unit retraction, smoking, osteoporosis, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia have all shown to negatively influence tendon healing after rotator cuff repair. Smoking cessation and blood glucose and cholesterol control are methods to potentially improve healing rates. Slower, less aggressive rehabilitation programs may improve healing rates with no negative effect on final range of motion and are therefore recommended after arthroscopic repair of most full thickness tears. Finally, no definitive evidence supports the use of platelet rich plasma or mesenchymal stem cells regarding improvement of healing rates after rotator cuff repair. Routine use of these adjuvants is therefore not currently recommended.