Preoperative Shoulder Stiffness Was Accompanied by Distinct Supraspinatus Tendon Inflammatory Signatures but Not Inferior Long-term Outcomes After Rotator Cuff Repair

This study investigates whether preoperative shoulder stiffness affects functional recovery and inflammatory characteristics of the supraspinatus tendon in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair. The authors found that while patients with stiffness had worse initial function, they achieved greater improvements in clinical outcomes post-surgery compared to those without stiffness, without experiencing inferior long-term results. Additionally, the inflammatory signatures in the tendons of patients with stiffness were distinct, suggesting a unique biological context that may inform postoperative management strategies.