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. 2011 Dec;4(4):208-13.
doi: 10.1007/s12178-011-9098-3.

Treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears

M Michael Khair  1 , Lawrence V Gulotta
Affiliations

Treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears

M Michael Khair et al. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2011 Dec.

Abstract

Irreparable rotator cuff tears are a challenging problem for patients and surgeons. There are several treatment options, but deciding the correct one for each patient can be difficult. Treatment options include physical therapy, arthroscopy, muscle transfers, reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and hemiarthroplasty. An understanding of the patient's chief complaint and their functional ability to elevate their arm above horizontal should guide the treatment. This article reviews the current literature on various treatment options for irreparable rotator cuff tears, then outlines an algorithm for determining treatment.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Treatment algorithm for irreparable rotator cuff tears
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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