Predictors of PROMIS Pain Interference Two Years After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

J Shoulder Elbow Surg · Oct 01 2026 · Recent

Blommer JM, Funk K, Kinney SL, Healey K, Patankar A, McCurdy MA, et al.

Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore

SUMMARY — THE REDUCTIONIn 152 patients two years after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, better preoperative ASES predicted less pain interference, while higher comorbidity burden and worse depression scores predicted more; useful for preoperative counseling.

Abstract, as published

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tears are a leading cause of shoulder pain and disability in adults. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) aims to improve function and reduce pain. The Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference (PI) assesses the impact of pain on daily life. This study aimed to identify preoperative predictors of PROMIS PI two years after RCR.

METHODS: Patients undergoing arthroscopic RCR from June 2015 to April 2022 were identified from a prospectively enrolled orthopaedic registry. Chart review of the electronic medical record was performed for demographic factors, surgical factors, and patients' Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were collected at baseline and two years postoperatively, including six PROMIS domains, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES), numeric pain scales (NPS) of the operative shoulder and body, Tegner Activity Subscale (TAS), and Marx Activity Rating Scale of the upper extremity (MARS UE). Statistical analyses were conducted to identify significant predictors of two-year PROMIS PI scores and change in PROMIS PI from baseline.

RESULTS: Among 203 patients, 152 (75%) completed two-year PROs after RCR. On multivariable regression, higher preoperative ASES independently predicted better two-year PROMIS PI (Estimate -0.17, 95% CI -0.25 to -0.08, p<.001), whereas a greater CCI (Estimate 1.14, 95% CI 0.07 to 2.20, p=.037) and higher preoperative PROMIS Depression scores (Estimate 0.38, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.54, p<.001) predicted worse two-year PROMIS PI. Greater CCI (Estimate 2.07, 95% CI 0.07 to 2.21, p<.001) also independently predicted less two-year improvement in PROMIS PI.

CONCLUSION: Better preoperative ASES scores independently predicted better two-year PROMIS PI, while worse preoperative PROMIS Depression, and higher CCI predicted worse two-year PROMIS PI after RCR. Preoperative assessment of these measures is a good indicator of postoperative pain and may inform preoperative counseling in patients undergoing arthroscopic RCR.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Case Series, Prognosis Study.

Read the article: PubMed · Publisher (DOI)

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