Study Summary

83 patients with rotator cuff tears undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were randomized to receive rotator cuff repair with concomitant rotator interval release or rotator cuff repair alone. The outcomes of interest were postoperative pain measured by the visual analog scale (VAS), the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, narcotic pain medication use, and shoulder range of motion (forward flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation). Outcomes were assessed from the immediate postoperative period to a mean follow-up of approximately four and a half years. Overall, the results of the study revealed no statistically significant differences between groups in pain, functional scores, narcotic use, or range of motion at any postoperative time point. These findings suggest that routine rotator interval release during arthroscopic rotator cuff repair does not demonstrate additional clinical benefit in terms of pain relief or shoulder motion recovery.