Arthroscopic management of rotator cuff disease

The etiology of rotator cuff disease is controversial, but is not always secondary to cuff impingement between the humeral head and the coracoacromial arch. Rotator cuff disease, and not impingement syndrome, more accurately describes this process. The spectrum of rotator cuff disease begins with rotator cuff inflammation (Stage I) and progresses to tendinitis (Stage II) and partial or full thickness tears (Stage III). Refractory Stage II and III disease without rotator cuff tears undergoes subacromial bursectomy and acromioplasty. Partial thickness tears are debrided with an acromioplasty, bursectomy, and removal of inferior clavicular osteophytes. Full thickness tears are treated arthroscopically or open, depending on the tear size and the patient expectations. In general, tears from 0 to 5 cm in active patients undergo subacromial decompression and a mini-open repair. Low demand patients with 0 to 5 cm tears or tears greater than 5 cm are treated with subacromial decompression and rotator cuff debridement.