Treatment options for irreparable rotator cuff tears

Abstract

The treatment of massive rotator cuff tears still remains a challenge for the orthopedic surgeon: Their operative repair is technically difficult and associated with a higher recurrence rate than that of smaller tears. There is no consensus in the literature regarding the definition of a massive rotator cuff tear. Patte categorized rotator cuff tears based on its extent, topography in the sagittal and frontal plane, quality of the muscle, and state of the long head of the biceps tendon. Massive tears involve more than one tendon and at least 4 cm long in the sagittal plane, without (group III) or with (IV) humeral head osteoarthritis.