Factors Affecting Perceptions of Open, Mini-Open, and Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Techniques Among Medical Professionals

Although no long-term difference between arthroscopic and mini-open rotator cuff repairs has been documented, use of arthroscopic repair has exploded. We conducted a study to determine which repair technique medical professionals preferred for their own surgery and to analyze the perceptions shaping those opinions. A survey was emailed to selected professionals at our institution: attendings, residents, and allied health professionals; 84 (41, 20, and 23, respectively) responded. Irrespective of specialty or career length, almost half (39, 46%) preferred deferring the repair choice to their surgeon; the other 45 preferred arthroscopic (22, 26%), mini-open (19, 23%), open (2, 2%), or no (2, 2%) repair. Most agreed repairs were safe and fast but had no opinion about cost-effectiveness or which technique provided the best outcome. Significantly (P < .05) more respondents thought arthroscopic and mini-open repairs promoted quick healing, good cosmetic results, and patient satisfaction compared with open repair, but these repairs were also perceived as significantly (P < .05) harder to learn and more challenging than open repair. It is important for medical professionals to recognize these biases, especially given that many defer to the judgment of their medical peers.