Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores correlate positively with American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores postoperatively in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair

Background: The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder score and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) measure shoulder function. Relative to the ASES questionnaire, the SANE questionnaire is shorter and easier to score. We sought to determine (1) the correlation between ASES and SANE scores preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair (RCR) or shoulder arthroplasty and (2) the correlation between the change in ASES scores and change in SANE scores.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 107 patients who underwent RCR (n = 74) or shoulder arthroplasty (n = 33), which included patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (n = 18) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (n = 15), at our institution from 2014 to 2015 and who completed the ASES and SANE questionnaires preoperatively and at least 2 years postoperatively. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship between SANE and ASES scores in RCR patients and arthroplasty patients (both total shoulder arthroplasty and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty) at each time point.

Results: In the RCR group, correlations between SANE and ASES scores were moderately positive preoperatively (r = 0.30) and strongly positive postoperatively (r = 0.86). In the arthroplasty group, correlations between SANE and ASES scores were moderately positive preoperatively (r = 0.46) and strongly positive postoperatively (r = 0.78).

Conclusion: SANE scores correlate positively with ASES scores postoperatively in patients undergoing RCR. Therefore, SANE scores, together with clinician-based and combination scores, can be used to assess postoperative shoulder function in these patients.