An Update on Surgical Management of the Repairable Large-to-Massive Rotator Cuff Tear

➢ Despite an evolving array of surgical options and technologies available to perform rotator cuff repair, as well as advances in postoperative rehabilitation strategies, reported failure rates remain high, with large-to-massive rotator cuff tears showing higher failure rates than small-to-medium-sized tears. ➢ Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging is critical for judging the potential repairability of a large-to-massive rotator cuff tear based on imaging characteristics, including tear size and retraction, length and attenuation of the tendon stump, and fatty infiltration or atrophy in the rotator cuff muscle bellies. Advanced fatty infiltration and atrophy in the rotator cuff muscles have been found to be independent predictors of retear following repair of large-to-massive tears. ➢ While there is some evidence that double-row rotator cuff repairs have lower failure rates for larger tears, a double-row repair may not always be possible in some chronic, retracted large-to-massive rotator cuff tears that cannot be completely mobilized and have tendon loss. ➢ Strategies to augment rotator cuff repairs are based on the desire to improve the mechanical integrity and biologic healing environment of the repair, and they have shown promise in improving healing rates following repair of large-to-massive tears. ➢ While most patients report pain relief and have increased patient-reported outcomes scores after surgery, studies have shown that patients with an intact repair have better functional scores, range of motion, and strength, and less fatty degeneration compared with patients with a failed repair.