2019 AAOS Annual Meeting: Postoperative Mobilization after Rotator Cuff Repair: Sling versus Nothing: A Randomized Prospective Study

80 patients with a supraspinatus tear less than 3cm and scheduled for arthroscopic repair were randomized to either 4-week sling immobilization or no sling use after surgery. Patients were assessed for shoulder range of motion, pain, and functional scores, as well as repair integrity and tendon healing on 6-month ultrasound. Clinical measures demonstrated significantly better results for the no sling group for range of elevation at 6 weeks and 3 months, range of external rotation at 6 weeks, and range of internal rotation at 3 months. Visual analog pain scores at 6 months also significantly favoured the no sling group, while the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score demonstrated no significant difference between groups. Ultrasound results of repair integrity and tendon healing were also similar between groups at 6 months.