Poor nutrition is the top reason rotator cuff repairs fail, more than tear size. A Japanese study found patients with bad nutrition have 4 to 500 times higher risk of re-tear. About half of people having the surgery are undernourished.
What's the number one reason rotator cuff repairs fail to heal? It turns out it might actually be nutrition. We've always focused on tear size and the patient, but a study from Japan shows that the risk of retear is 4 to 500 times higher in the setting of poor nutrition. What's striking is that's about 50% of people going into rotator cuff repairs. So if you're having a rotator cuff repair, really consider optimizing your nutrition to improve your chance of healing.
