Biomechanical, Histologic, and Micro-Computed Tomography Characterization of Partial-Width Full-Thickness Supraspinatus Tendon Injury in Rats

Partial rotator cuff tears can cause shoulder pain and dysfunction and are more common than complete tears. However, few studies examine partial injuries in small animals and, therefore a robust, clinically relevant model may be lacking. This study aimed to fully characterize the established rat model of partial rotator cuff injury over time and determine if it models human partial rotator cuff tears.