• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pain recovery pattern according to the integrity and to analyze the factors affecting the progress and level of pain postoperatively. Materials and Methods: We examined 153 patients, who were treated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. 101 rotator cuff tears were full-thickness tear and 52 were partial tear. The mean follow up duration was 20 months (12~30 months). We evaluated the visual analogue scale, range of motion, ASES (American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons), and UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) scores preoperatively and postoperatively. We analyzed the pain recovery pattern between partial and full thickness tear using Student T-test and the factors affecting the progress and level of postoperative pain using multiple regression analysis. Results: The change patterns of visual analogue scale after arthroscpoic repair were similar regardless of the tear integrity. The VAS showed a continuous decreasing pattern, but increased at first 3 weeks postoperatively and at 7 weeks postoperatively, and then, decreased thereafter. The average VAS was ${\leqq}2$ points by postoperative 3 months. The factor affecting the pain score at 3 months was related to the preoperative limitation in forward flexion ($r^2=0.377$, p=0.021). Conclusion: There was no differences of the pain recovery pattern according to the integrity, and the factor affecting the progress of postoperative pain was preoperative angle of forward elevation. So, the appropriate preoperative rehabilitation protocol that can improve motions of the shoulder joint would help to improve the level of postoperative pain and functional recovery.