Subacromial Decompression Is Not Beneficial for the Management of Rotator Cuff Disease

» Currently, the 2 most common indications for performing a subacromial decompression are subacromial pain syndrome refractory to nonoperative treatment and repair of rotator cuff tears. » Multiple, high-quality randomized controlled trials showed that subacromial decompression did not provide improvements in pain, function, or quality of life compared with a placebo surgical procedure or other conservative treatments for patients with subacromial pain syndrome. » Similarly, several randomized controlled trials failed to prove any functional or structural advantage when performing rotator cuff repairs with or without subacromial decompression. » Imaging studies showed that subacromial decompression did not prevent the development or progression of rotator cuff tears. Moreover, similar retear rates were reported between patients in which rotator cuff repairs were performed with or without subacromial decompression. » In conclusion, subacromial decompression did not provide any clinical or structurally substantial benefit for the treatment of subacromial pain syndrome or the surgical repair of rotator cuff tears.