Increasing incidence of rotator cuff repairs—A nationwide registry study in Finland

Abstract

BackgroundRotator cuff repair incidence rates have reportedly increased in the United States and England. Here we analyzed nationwide data relating to rotator cuff repairs recorded in the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register (NHDR).MethodsThe NHDR was reviewed to identify adult patients who underwent rotator cuff repair between 1998 and 2011. Incidence rates per 105 person-years were calculated using the annual adult population size.ResultsDuring the 14-year time period, 50,646 rotator cuff repairs were performed on subjects aged 18 years or older. The incidence of rotator cuff repair showed an almost linear increase of 204 %, from 44 per 105 person-years in 1998 to 131 per 105 person-years in 2011. The most common concomitant procedure was acromioplasty, which was performed in approximately 40 % of rotator cuff repairs in 2011. Other common concomitant procedures included tenodesis (7 %) and tenotomy (6 %) of the long head of the biceps tendon, and resection of the acromioclavicular joint (3 %).ConclusionsThis nationwide analysis revealed a remarkable increase in the incidence of rotator cuff repair from 1998 to 2011 in Finland. This progress can be questioned, since there are not convincing data of the superiority of the operative treatment over non-operative management in all rotator cuff tears.

Occupational Risk Factors for Shoulder Tendon Disorders 2015 Update

“…Acromial shape appears to progress from type I to III reaching as high as 93% of those over 70 years [60,61]. In a measure of increasing rotator cuff disease with age in Finland it was noted that repairs more than doubled in patients over 45 from 1998 to 2011 and few repairs in individuals < 45 [62]. Kim reported RCT rates as: 0% for < 40; 10% for 40-49; 20% 50-59; and 40.7% for >70 [63].…”

Epidemiology of tendon and ligament injuries in Aotearoa/New Zealand between 2010 and 2016

“…The increasing numbers and costs of specific tendon injuries have been previously highlighted in a number of studies (Clayton & Court-Brown, 2008;Colvin et al, 2012;Paloneva et al, 2015;Sanders Jr. et al, 2015). In contrast, other studies have suggested decreasing rates, specifically of hand and wrist injuries in one region of the United States (de Jong et al, 2014), as well as decreased tendon and ligament injuries of the foot and ankle presenting to emergency departments in the Netherlands (De Boer et al, 2014).…”

“…The first step in a public health approach to injury prevention and treatment, is to define the magnitude of the problem and identify the epidemiological characteristics of the issue (Krug et al, 2000). To date, a number of studies have been undertaken in other countries to determine the incidence of specific tendon injuries, such as rotator cuff tears, Achilles ruptures and tears of the hip abductor (Albers et al, 2016;Colvin et al, 2012;De Boer et al, 2014;de Jong et al, 2014;Gianotti et al, 2009;Nyyssonen et al, 2008;Paloneva et al, 2015;Sanders Jr. et al, 2015;Zbrojkiewicz et al, 2018). From these, it is clear that the prevalence of specific tendon/ ligament injuries is rising, as is the cost of treating musculoskeletal disorders as a whole, with an aggregate total expenditure on musculoskeletal conditions increasing from US$367.1 billion to $796.…”

Application of a new polyester patch in arthroscopic massive rotator cuff repair—a prospective cohort study

“…Scandinavian databases show a 204% increase of incidence during a 14-year period. 10,24,37,44 Whereas a substantial number of RC tears are degenerative in nature and often asymptomatic, trauma or increase in tear size can lead to decompensation, impairing shoulder function and patients' quality of life.…”