Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-17-2025
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The optimal indications for superior capsular reconstruction (SCR) in cases of massive irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs) accompanied by degenerative arthritis remain controversial.
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searching PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they documented Hamada grade and reported clinical and radiographic outcomes after SCR for irreparable RCTs. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, visual analog scale for pain (pVAS), active range of motion, and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) were analyzed.
RESULTS: In all 7 studies, there was no consistent trend observed regarding the influence of arthritis on the improvement of ASES scores, and none of the studies showed statistically significant correlations (p > 0.05). All 5 studies regarding pVAS showed a trend that the pVAS improvement after surgery decreased as the severity of arthritis increased (beta coefficient < 0). Out of the 7 studies regarding forward flexion (FF), 6 demonstrated a trend where the improvement after surgery decreased as the severity of arthritis increased (beta coefficient < 0). There was a tendency for the improvement in AHD to increase as the Hamada grade progressed.
CONCLUSIONS: There was no consistent trend observed regarding the impact of the severity of arthritis on the improvement of ASES score. However, there was a trend of decreasing improvement in pVAS and FF after surgery as arthritis progressed. SCR could be a viable option even in cases of Hamada grades 3 and 4.
Recommended Citation
Park, Tae-Hoon; Kim, Hyungsuk; Kim, Sukil; Lee, Jongin; Williams, Gerald R.; and Song, Hyun Seok, "Does Preoperative Arthritis Affect the Outcomes of Superior Capsular Reconstruction? A Systematic Review" (2025). Rothman Institute Papers. Paper 312.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/rothman_institute/312
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Language
English
Included in
Health Services Research Commons, Musculoskeletal Diseases Commons, Orthopedics Commons, Surgery Commons, Wounds and Injuries Commons
Comments
This article is the author’s final published version in CiOS Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery, Volume 18, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 122-132.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.4055/cios25171. Copyright © 2026 by The Korean Orthopaedic Association.