CHICAGO — Results presented at the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Annual Meeting showed most patients with symptomatic atraumatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears treated with an evidence-based rehabilitation program not subsequent surgery.

Kuhn and colleagues followed 433 patients with atraumatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears for 5 years. Patients provided data via questionnaires on demographics, symptom characteristics, comorbidities, willingness to undergo surgery and patient-related outcome assessments. Patients participated in a physical therapy program created by the researchers, returning for evaluation at and weeks. esearcher patients choose: cured, with no formal follow-up scheduled; improved, after which therapy was continued with scheduled reassessment in weeks; or no better, and surgery was offered.