The effect of selected factors on the quality of life of patients after arthroscopic reconstruction of a rotator cuff 1–2 years after surgery

Introduction
One of the key goals in the recovery process in patients after the procedure of surgical repair of the rotator cuff is the reduction of pain complaints and achievement of satisfactory improvement in such domains as occupational activity, lifestyle, sports, recreation, or mood.

Aim of the research
To evaluate the effect of selected factors on the quality of life of patients who had undergone arthroscopic reconstruction of the rotator cuff within 1–2 years of the surgery.

Material and methods
The study was conducted in a group of 69 patients aged 40–65 years, after arthroscopic reconstruction of the rotator cuff in the Specialist Hospital in Rudna Mała. The quality of life was measured using the WORC, which is a disease-specific research instrument.

Results
The highest quality of life was noted subsequently in the following domains: physical symptoms (x = 22.28), emotions (x = 24.21), and lifestyle (x = 26.74), whereas the lowest quality of life was seen in the domains of work (x = 38.48) and sports and recreation (x = 36.18). The highest overall quality of life was observed in patients with university education level (p = 0.011), occupationally active (p = 0.017), who performed intellectual work (p = 0.001), and received rehabilitation for a period longer than 8 weeks (p = 0.003).

Conclusions
The respondents’ university education level, occupational activity, intellectual work, and rehabilitation for a period longer than 8 weeks were the factors that strongly determined the quality of life of patients. Physical symptoms, such as the domain of the WORC, most strongly determined the overall quality of life of the respondents.