The Effect of Telerehabilitation on the Outcome of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of telerehabilitation in the postoperative treatment of rotator cuff diseases following arthroscopic repair.

Data Sources

Randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of telemedicine and conventional treatment on patients after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and other databases up to December 2024.

Study Selection

The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used for quality assessment. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software. Forest plots and Egger’s test were used to estimate publication bias. The results were integrated using the pooled integration method.

Date Extraction

Two researchers independently conducted the data extraction. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion.

Data Synthesis

A total of 5 studies were included, involving 317 participants (telerehabilitation group, 157; conventional group, 160), with a mean age ranging from 26.5 to 63.9 years and a gender distribution of 74 males and 243 females. Follow-up periods ranged from 12 to 52 weeks. After treatment, functional outcomes measured by the Constant-Murley score in the telerehabilitation group were significantly better than those in the conventional treatment group. Compared with conventional treatment, telerehabilitation significantly improved upper limb function evaluated by the quick disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand score and shoulder strength, and improved shoulder function during the posttreatment period and at the final follow-up.

Conclusion

The combination of home monitoring devices with traditional rehabilitation methods is receiving significant attention. It offers a broader range of high-quality care services and is expected to reduce medical costs associated with face-to-face treatment.