To compare the effects of early functional recovery after arthroscopic massive rotator cuff repair with or without suprascapular nerve release.

A retrospective analysis of 46 patients treated with arthroscopic double-row repair for massive rotator cuff tear in Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Jinan University. Among them, 23 cases underwent suprascapular nerve release, while the others did not. A comparative analysis of the early functional recovery of two groups was carried out: including visual analogue scale (VAS) score, University of California at Los Angeles(UCLA) score, Constant-Murley score, shoulder range of motion(ROM). The results were statistically analyzed using repeated measure analysis of variance.

There was no significant difference between two groups in gender, age, size of tear, and follow-up period. The average VAS score, UCLA score, Constant-Murley score, and range of motion of shoulder joint of the two groups at two months after the surgery were significantly improved compared with the preoperative data(t=-3.30, 12.20, 14.31, 61.55, 61.55, all P<0.01), the release group were significantly better than the non-release group (t=-2.27, 8.28, 20.76, 62.20, all P <0.05). After six and 12 months of follow-up, the VAS score, UCLA score, Constant-Murley score, shoulder ROM were all improved compared with that of two month follow-up, but the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). At 12 months of follow-up, MRI shown similar healing rate of the rotator cuff between groups. There was no complication such as iatrogenic nerve injury or infection.

Concomitant suprascapular nerve release could play a positive role in early functional recovery in patients with massive rotator cuff repair. However, the release of suprascapular nerve has no significant effect on the long-term treatment of patients with giant rotator cuff tear.