The proportion of repaired tendons or ligaments that tear again after surgery.
Retear rate is the percentage of patients with imaging-confirmed (usually MRI or ultrasound) failure of tendon or ligament healing at a repaired site, most commonly reported after rotator cuff repair, but also used for other tendon/ligament reconstructions such as ACL or Achilles repair. It is typically assessed at a fixed post-operative timepoint and depends heavily on tear size, repair technique, and imaging modality, so rates vary widely across studies and aren't always directly comparable. A structural retear does not always correlate with pain, function, or patient-reported outcome, which limits its use as a sole marker of surgical success.
This guide was auto-drafted and is pending editorial review.