PURPOSE To review outcomes of arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears using absorbable anchors with a single-row technique. METHODS 66 patients underwent arthroscopic repair for rotator cuff tears using absorbable anchors with a single-row technique. 51 of them aged 37 to 73 (mean, 57) years had been followed up for a mean of 29 (range, 20-37) months. The extent of the tear was classified a...

BACKGROUND The role of nonoperative management for rotator cuff tears remains a matter of debate. Clinical results reported in the literature mainly consist of level IV studies, oftentimes combining a mixed bag of tear sizes and configurations, and are contradictory to some extent. METHODS A selective literature search was performed and personal surgical experiences are reported. RESULTS Mo...

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a technically challenging procedure. Accessory arthroscopic portals have been described that allow for optimal suture anchor placement, suture management, and knot tying. We describe here the usefulness of an accessory posteromedial portal that facilitates direct suture retrieval through the posterior aspect of a rotator cuff tear. This portal is created appr...

Rotator cuff reconstruction associated with inferior acromioplasty is an effective treatment for the patient with a full-thickness rotator cuff tear. This article describes the author’s technique of using multiple sutures to reconstruct the torn rotator cuff tendon. Intuitively, it is felt that this multi-suture technique will distribute forces across the tendon better than will fewer, larger s...

Overuse injuries of the rotator cuff are a significant source of pain and morbidity.1 Despite an aging population and documented associations between rotator cuff tears and increasing age, the pathogenesis of rotator cuff tendinopathy remains poorly understood.1-9 The natural history of rotator cuff tears is unfavorable, as these lesions fail to spontaneously heal and progress in size over time...

Anatomic factors, such as a hooked acromion, have been associated with rotator cuff disorders. Orientation of the glenoid relative to the scapula has been implicated in shoulder instability, but it has not been linked to rotator cuff disorders. The purpose of the current study was to test the hypothesis that superior inclination of the glenoid is associated with full-thickness rotator cuff tear...

Arthroscopic treatment of rotator cuff tears has become a routine procedure following a general trend toward using less invasive procedures. Proponents of this technique emphasize the decreased risk of complications such as infection, stiffness, and deltoid avulsions, whereas critics mention the lack of long-term studies, the controversy over the strength of fixation, and the technical challeng...

Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears are not a single entity; rather, they represent a spectrum of disease states. Although often asymptomatic, they can be significantly disabling. Overhead throwing athletes with partial-thickness rotator cuff tears differ with respect to etiology, goals, and treatment from older, nonathlete patients with degenerative tears. Pathogenesis of degenerative partial...

BACKGROUND The literature has shown good results with partial repairs of large and massive tears of rotator cuff but the role of factors that affect reparability is less clear. The purpose of this study was twofold, 1) to examine clinical outcomes following complete or partial repair of large or massive full-thickness rotator cuff tear, and 2) to explore the value of clinical and surgical facto...

BACKGROUND The optimal treatment for symptomatic, nontraumatic rotator cuff tear is unknown. The purpose of this trial was to compare the effectiveness of physiotherapy, acromioplasty, and rotator cuff repair for this condition. We hypothesized that rotator cuff repair yields superior results compared with other treatment modalities. METHODS One hundred and eighty shoulders with symptomatic, ...