Massive rotator cuff tears: algorithmic approach to surgical treatment

Abstract

The management of massive rotator cuff tears (MRCT) presents a unique challenge to many orthopedic specialists. Unlike tears that are predicted to do well with primary, complete repair, MRCT are affected by tissue retraction, in-elasticity, bursal scarring, muscle atrophy, and fatty degeneration; operative repair thus portends worse healing rates than smaller tears and is associated with recurrent tear rates of up to 91% based on ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Rotator cuff tears are a common condition in patients over the age of 50. Thus, multiple advances in treatment strategies have been made to combat the limited efficacy of complete or partial rotator cuff repair in the setting of a massive or irreparable rotator cuff tears. It is of utmost importance that the operating orthopedic surgeon be familiar with these various treatment modalities to best serve the patient and that they harbor these skills within their armamentarium. This article details a review of the current literature including nonoperative and operative treatments for the management of massive and irreparable rotator cuff tears. The primary objective is to propose a literature-based algorithm for the treatment of massive and often irreparable rotator cuff tears to allow for informed ease in the decision-making process.

Keywords: Rotator cuff tear; irreparable; reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA); rotator cuff repair; tendon transfer.

Figure 1

The authors’ preferred algorithm for treatment of massive rotator cuff tears. ER, external rotation; RSA, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty; Lat, latissimus dorsi; Pec, pectoralis major.