The challenges of arthroscopic diagnosis of subscapularis tears

Abstract

Visualisation of subscapularis lesions is difficult during open surgery. Introduction of arthroscopic procedures for rotator cuff surgery improved the diagnosis of subscapularis tears, but it still can be more challenging than for other rotator cuff tendon tears. The SFA classification of subscapularis tears is reproducible and correlates well with the arthroscopic findings. The arthroscopic diagnosis of subscapularis tear is made easier by: shoulder internal rotation, biceps tenodesis, dissection of the rotator interval, recognition of the sentinel and comma signs.