OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of smoking on the results of surgical repair of complete lesions of the rotator cuff Snyder types C1 and C2. METHODS: We studied 166 patients who had undergone surgical treatment for complete lesion of the rotator cuff Snyder type C1 and C2, from June 2002 to December 2006. Inclusion criteria were a minimum follow-up period of 24 months and the absence of previous surgery on the affected shoulder. Patients with other associated injuries were excluded. We evaluated the smoking and nonsmoking patients according to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). More patients were female (119) than male (47), and the mean age was 57 years (38 to 78). Of the 166 patients evaluated, 21 were classified as smokers and 145 as nonsmokers. The final results were evaluated by the UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) and statistical analysis was performed using Epi Info®. RESULTS: According to the UCLA criteria, smokers had a final average of 32.6 points, while non-smokers had 33.8. Postoperative statistical analysis revealed a difference between the two groups, with non-smoking patients having a better outcome. CONCLUSION: Smoking interferes with the final results of the repairs of small and medium-sized lesions of the rotator cuff.
Arthroscopy; Shoulder; Shoulder; Shoulder Pain
