Treatment Options for Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears. A Brief Summary.

Video Description

A massive rotator cuff tear is not necessarily irreparable, and an irreparable tear is not always massive. Number of tendons involved, tissue quality, and decreased acromiohumeral distance are as important as tear size in determining reparability.
Debridement of irreparable tears may have a role in low functional demand patients but results deteriorate over time.
Patients who do not have pseudoparalysis or advanced cuff tear arthropathy can benefit from biceps tenotomy or tenodesis.
Suprascapular neuropathy has been shown to be a potential neurogenic cause of pain in massive rotator cuff tears.
Tendon transfers offer good results in patients with massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears who have intact deltoid function and disabling weakness but not pseudoparalysis.