Sling Results in Better Sleep Quality and Less Anxiety Early After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair .
Sling Results in Better Sleep Quality and Less Anxiety Early After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Randomized Single-Blinded Trial.
Am J Sports Med . 2025 Jan;53(1):39-45.One hundred forty-two patients with full-thickness small to large rotator cuff tears were randomized to receive either abduction brace immobilization (n=65) or sling immobilization (n=66) for 6 weeks following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The primary outcome was the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at 6 weeks postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included anxiety (Self-rating Anxiety Scale), pain levels, patient satisfaction, functional scores (ASES), and tendon healing assessed via ultrasonography at 6 weeks and 1 year. Overall, the results of the study revealed that at 6 weeks, the sling group had significantly better sleep quality, less anxiety, less pain, and higher satisfaction compared to the brace group. However, no differences were found in any outcomes at 1 year, including tendon healing. These findings suggest that sling immobilization offers early psychological and comfort advantages without compromising long-term clinical outcomes.
Unlock the Full ACE Report
You have access to 4 more FREE articles this month.
Click below to unlock and view this ACE Reports
Unlock Now
Critical appraisals of the latest, high-impact randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews in orthopaedics
Access to OrthoEvidence podcast content, including collaborations with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, interviews with internationally recognized surgeons, and roundtable discussions on orthopaedic news and topics
Subscription to The Pulse, a twice-weekly evidence-based newsletter designed to help you make better clinical decisions
Exclusive access to original content articles, including in-house systematic reviews, and articles on health research methods and hot orthopaedic topics