Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity as Prognostic Factors in Arthroscopic Repair of Chronic Rotator Cuff Tears

Metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes mellitus seem to have an influence on reoperation and long-term functional outcomes after arthroscopic repair of chronic rotator cuff tears. High prevalence of these pathologies can be found in the Canary Islands. A retrospective cohort study was carried out, in which 80 patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopic surgery for the repair of chronic rotator cuff tears were included, with a minimum follow up of 5 years, to study the occurrence of complications, reoperation, and functional outcomes. Functionality after surgery improved in 75% of patients with diabetes and remained the same or worsened in 25% (OR = 1.444). In the group of non-diabetic patients, 83.9% had improved function after surgery while it remained the same or worsened in 16.1% (OR = 0.830). Functionality after surgery improved in 76.6% of obese patients and remained the same or worsened in 23.4% (OR = 1.324). In the non-obese group, 87.9% had improved function after surgery, while it remained the same or worsened in 12.1% (OR = 0.598). Despite not obtaining statistically significant differences, the analysis of the results obtained suggests that obesity and diabetes could act by decreasing the subjective improvement in functionality after surgery, and, in the case of obesity, also increase the risk of reoperation.