A review of the literature shows the risk of postoperative
stiffness after rotator cuff repair to range anywhere
from 0% to 14%.4-7 Despite a conservative
rehabilitation protocol, the results from Huberty et al.1
showed a comparable overall risk (4.9%) of postoperative
stiffness requiring secondary arthroscopic release.
From this previous study, risk factors associated
with an increased incidence of stiffness among patients
included calcific tendonitis (16.7% incidence of
stiffness among those who had the risk factor), adhesive
capsulitis (15%), PASTA-type rotator cuff repair
(13.5%), concomitant labral repair (11%), or singletendon
rotator cuff repair (7.3%).