Treatment of rotator cuff impingement

The author performed 497 shoulder decompression procedures between 1978 and 1989. Of these procedures, 252 (51%) had tears of the rotator cuff that were repaired concomitantly. The results were successful in over 90% of the cases. It is suggested that articular-surface tears or intratendinous tears are the possible cause of some of the failures of the open procedure. The findings also suggest that the use of arthroscopy or magnetic resonance imaging may be indicated in selected cases. However, for the appropriate patient, open shoulder decompression continues to be an excellent treatment.