An observational study in Rotator Cuff Tear, sponsored by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Completed at 1 site in Taiwan. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-27.
Sponsored by Chang Gung Memorial Hospital · Observational
The goal of this longitudinal study is to understand the postoperative quality of life and dynamic trajectory of shoulder function in individuals with rotator cuff tears.
Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) involve rupture of shoulder tendons or muscles, leading to pain and weakness. Its prevalence increases with age and is influenced by factors such as handedness, obesity, and smoking. Although conservative treatments are common, surgery aims to restore function. However, limited research has been conducted on postoperative psychological and social changes. Patient-reported outcome (PRO) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) assessments are gaining importance, offering comprehensive insights into patient experiences.
This longitudinal study will include 200 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients who undergo surgery. Demographics, physical examinations, and scales, such as ASES, WORC, WHOQOL-BREF, and EQ-5D, are collected preoperatively and at 2 weeks and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. MRI is used to assess postoperative healing at 6 months. Statistical analyses are performed using SAS software encompassing chi-square, t-tests, linear mixed effects models, and subgroup analyses to identify determinants of postoperative quality of life and functionality.
734 studies on the registry are indexed under Rotator Cuff Injuries; 161 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 201 is above the median of 67 across 162 observational studies indexed under Rotator Cuff Injuries.
Browse Rotator Cuff Injuries studies →Chang Gung Memorial Hospital is the lead sponsor of 1,064 studies on the registry; 235 are open to participants now.
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Patients were evaluated by orthopedic surgeons as having a rotator cuff tear between August 2021 and July 2022, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound.
-Patients were evaluated by orthopedic surgeons as having a rotator cuff tear between August 2021 and July 2022, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound. If the patients required surgery and were willing to participate in the trial, the research assistant provided informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
This is a Longitudinal Study. Patients were evaluated by orthopedic surgeons as having a rotator cuff tear, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound. If the patients required surgery and were willing to participate in the trial, the research assistant provided informed consent. The exclusion criteria were as follows. 1. Acromioclavicular arthritis requiring distal clavicular resection. 2. Severe glenohumeral arthritis (Hamada classification grade 3 or higher)15. 3. History of shoulder fracture. 4. Absolute contraindications to MRI, such as claustrophobia, pacemakers, neurostimulators, drug infusion pumps, artificial inner ear implants, and metallic implants.
Procedure: Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
All patients were placed in a semi-sitting position. Initially, a posterior portal was established to explore the inside of the joint, a lateral portal was created for the removal of subacromial bursa, and an additional anterior portal was created for repairing the tendons. Measurements were taken to determine the extent of rotator cuff damage, including its anterior-posterior and medial-lateral dimensions. In cases where complete repair was possible, a single-row or double-row repair technique was used depending on the degree of tendon damage. For situations where complete repair was not feasible, partial repair was performed. If the tendon could be stretched after relaxation, it was repaired to an anatomical position near the bone bed with the assistance of acellular dermal reinforcement. However, if the tendon lacked elasticity and was fully retracted upon relaxation, acellular dermis was used to bridge the tendon back to the anatomical position.
Shoulder joint angles and strength were tracked preoperatively and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively.
1. Patients were seated comfortably, and a goniometer was used to measure the active range of motion (ROM) of shoulder joint angles, including internal rotation, external rotation, abduction, extension, and flexion. 2. Patients were seated comfortably and a manual hydraulic push-pull dynamometer was used to measure the strength of internal rotation, external rotation, abduction, extension, and flexion.
Time frame: 1 year
Questionnaire Survey
The following scales were administered to the patients before surgery and at 2 weeks, as well as at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Owing to notable swelling and discomfort at the surgical site and joint at the 2-week postoperative mark, measurements of shoulder joint angles and strength were not advisable.
Time frame: 1 year
American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score (ASES Score)
The ASES Score has been validated for use in patients with shoulder arthritis, shoulder instability, rotator cuff tears, and in those who have undergone shoulder arthroplasty. The ASES questionnaire comprises sections evaluated by physicians and self-reported by patients. The questionnaire focused on joint pain, instability, and activities of daily living. It consists of 17 questions, including one for the pain score and ten for the daily living function assessment. The final pain score was computed using an independent formula, whereas the raw functional scores were multiplied by coefficients to derive the overall functional score. The pain and functional components were then combined to yield the total ASES score, with higher scores indicating better prognosis.
Time frame: 1 year
Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index(WORC)
The Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) questionnaire is primarily designed to aid in understanding the specific symptoms and functional limitations related to rotator cuff tendon pathology. It comprises 21 questions organized into five domains: Physical Symptoms, Leisure and Recreation, Work, Social, and Emotional. Each question was scored on a scale of 0 to 100, resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 2100. Higher scores indicated a worse prognosis. However, for the purpose of comparison with other scales, the total score is subtracted by 2100 and then divided by 21 to convert it into a percentage. In this scenario, higher scores indicate a better prognosis.
Time frame: 1 year
Taiwan Version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) Questionnaire
The Taiwan version of the WHOQOL-BREF consists of 28 questions, measuring overall Quality of Life (QOL), general health status, and 26 aspects of quality of life across four main domains: Physical Health (covering the original physical and independence domains), psychological (encompassing the original psychological and spiritual/religious/personal belief domains), Social Relationships, and Environment. Higher scores indicate better prognosis.
Time frame: 1 year
EQ-5D Quality of Life Questionnaire for Preoperative Utility Assessment
The EQ-5D is a preference-based health-related quality of life measurement tool comprising five dimensions of self-classification items and a self-assessment scale for current health status ranging from 0 to 100. Each of the five dimensions has three different levels of options and various combinations correspond to different utility values. Higher utility values indicate better prognosis
Time frame: 1 year
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Follow-up
At 6 months postoperatively, a musculoskeletal radiologist specializing in soft tissue assessment will perform MRI to determine whether there is a re-tear of the rotator cuff, assess tendon retraction20, evaluate fat infiltration using the Goutallier classification21-23, and measure muscle atrophy24. Among these, the most crucial imaging indicator is the presence of a re-tear, which relates to the extent of postoperative functional recovery and subsequently influences changes in the psychological state. According to previous research, the optimal time for evaluating the degree of rotator cuff healing is 6 months postoperatively
Time frame: 1 year
Plan to share: Undecided
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Chang Gung Memorial Hospital