Bilateral rotator cuff tears requiring repair are not uncommon. Typically, these tears
have been treated with staged surgeries. However, in appropriately selected cases,
single-stage repair is preferable because it reduces costs, the number of admissions,
total hospitalization, and rehabilitation time. It can also reduce patient suffering by
providing relief with a single procedure. The authors compared 10 patients with a
mean age of 55 years who had bilateral symptomatic rotator cuff tear and underwent
single-stage bilateral arthroscopic cuff repair (group A) with 17 patients with a mean
age of 55 years who had unilateral symptomatic rotator cuff tear and underwent unilateral
arthroscopic cuff repair (group B). Clinical assessment was performed preoperatively
and at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively with the visual analog scale, the
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, and the Korean shoulder score.
Overall function, pain, and strength were improved significantly in both groups.
Although the difference in visual analog scale score between both groups decreased
during follow-up, this score was significantly lower in group B (P=.026). At initial
follow-up, the UCLA score was higher in group A. However, at the last follow-up,
this score was significantly higher in group B (P<.001). The Korean shoulder score
was significantly higher in group A at all follow-up times (P<.001). The study findings
showed that single-stage bilateral rotator cuff repair is a preferable option in
appropriately selected patients. It can provide satisfactory results without additional
complications, and it does not lead to longer hospitalization or rehabilitation than
unilateral repair.