Rotator cuff repair as an outpatient procedure

The purpose of this study was to evaluate outpatient rotator cuff repair on the basis of patient satisfaction, pain control, early postoperative compl ications, and cost control. Patients were considered good candidates for an outpatient repair if they were in good health and had adequate support at home. Seventy-five rotator cuff repairs were performed on an outpatient bas is. The average age of the patients was 58 years. Patients with tears small er than 2 cm in diameter were excluded. Postoperative pain was managed effe ctively in 74 of 75 outpatients. There were no cases of deltoid origin comp romise, deep infection, or early failure of repair, and no outpatient requi red readmission to the hospital. This study demonstrates that outpatient ro tator cuff repair is possible in the appropriately selected patient and can be performed safely and effectively with a 43% reduction in overall cost.