Impingement syndrome refers to the rotator cuff tendons rubbing or "impinging" on the undersurface of the acromion. This can lead to rotator cuff fraying, tendonitis or inflammation in the tendon, and subacromial bursitis. When the tendon is inflamed it results in pain, but typically not weakness. Non-operative treatments are usually successful; however, some people have significant hooking of the anterior acromion or develop spurs. If injections, therapy, and NSAIDs fail to alleviate pain, some patients benefit from surgical debridement and decompression; however, good results are less predictable than surgery for rotator cuff tears.

A partial thickness rotator cuff tear involves only a portion of the rotator cuff fibers being torn, with some still being attached to the proximal humerus. These tears can be treated without surgery initially, which typically involves physical therapy, activity modifications, NSAIDs, and sometimes cortisone injections. When non-operative treatments fail to alleviate pain, then surgery can be performed.

​If surgery is required, it may include debridement of the partially torn tendon or repair if the tear is deep enough. Partial rotator cuff tears can involve the bursal or articular fibers of the rotator cuff. If greater than 50% (roughly 6 mm) of tendon fibers are torn on the articular side at the time of surgery, the tendon is repaired. If less, only debridement is needed. If a tear involves the bursal surface, involvement of less than 25% of fibers (roughly 3 mm) requires only debridement, whereas tears deeper than 25% of the tendon width are often repaired.

A coronal MRI image of a partial, bursal sided rotator cuff tear.

Arthroscopic images before and after bursal sided, partial rotator cuff repair.  The image on the right demonstrated tendon mobilization and compression back down over the tuberosity bone.

A full thickness tear involves complete detachment of the tendon from the bone at the proximal humerus. It may develop slowly over time (chronic degenerative tears) or it may occur acutely from trauma. If it develops slowly over time (chronic-degenerative), patients are often able to compensate with the other muscles until the tear becomes too large and symptoms develop. Traumatic tears present with immediate weakness and pain.

Depending on patient age, type of tear, and medical problems, full thickness tears can be treated with cortisone injections, physical therapy exercises, or surgical repair. Treatments are largely individualized based on the patient, but in general, acute-traumatic full thickness rotator cuff tears are treated with surgical repair. Chronic-degenerative rotator cuff tears can be initially treated with non-operative options; however, full-thickness rotator cuff tears tend to enlarge over time, retract, and develop muscle atrophy, all of which decrease the chances of subsequent healing with surgery. Once the rotator cuff is torn, it does not heal on its own.

Our surgeons are also experienced with revision rotator cuff repairs and utilize advance arthroscopic techniques, including patch augmentation, in an attempt to facilitate healing.

A coronal MRI image on the left of a full thickness rotator cuff tear, and the same tear when viewed with an arthroscopic camera on the right.

The coronal MRI far left, initial arthroscopic image middle, and final arthroscopic repair on far right of a full thickness rotator cuff tear.

Arthroscopic images of a revision rotator cuff repair using patch augmentation to help with healing. 

A) Initial camera image of tear after preparation. 
B) Standard repair of the recurrent rotator cuff tear. 
C) Four additional anchors placed around the repair to hold down the graft. 
D) Final image after graft has been tied down securely over the traditional rotator cuff repair. 

When rotator cuff tendon tears become too large to repair, and non-operative treatments fail, there are several surgical options. These options are often based on a combination of surgeon preference, patient age, patient expectation, and overall patient health. Options include partial tendon repair, superior capsule reconstrution, tendon transfers, and reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Our surgeons are routinely performing superior capsule reconstruction for younger patients, and reverse shoulder replacement for older patients.

Arthroscopic image of a massive rotator cuff tear, not repairable by conventional techniques.

Video animation by Arthrex demonstrating a superior capsule reconstruction procedure.