(English) Episode 120-Rotator Cuff Repair - Surgery vs rehab - what the science says about your shoulder's future

This research article presents a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing conservative versus surgical management for full-thickness rotator cuff tears. The authors synthesized data from six randomized controlled trials to assess clinical outcomes, specifically Constant-Murley score (CMS) and VAS pain score, at one and two-year follow-ups. The study found no statistically significant difference in shoulder function (CMS) between surgical and conservative groups at either one or two years. However, surgical management showed superior results in reducing pain (VAS score) at the one-year mark. The authors conclude that more high-quality, long-term randomized controlled trials are needed to fully evaluate the comparative long-term efficacy of these treatments.(Longo UG, Risi Ambrogioni L, Candela V, Berton A, Carnevale A, Schena E, et al. Conservative versus surgical management for patients with rotator cuff tears: a systematic review and META-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord [Internet]. 2021;22(1):50. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03872-4)