Current Concepts: Arthroscopic Treatment of Articular-Sided Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears

Abstract

Partial-thickness articular-sided rotator cuff tears are often seen in overhead-throwing athletes. A recent anatomical study showed that the superior shoulder capsule is attached to a substantial area (30–61 %) of the greater tuberosity. This suggests that articular-sided partial-thickness tears of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons include detachment of the superior shoulder capsule from the greater tuberosity. It also suggests that low-grade partial tears (less than 50 % of the tendon thickness) are not rotator cuff tears but just superior capsule tears. Because shoulder capsule tears can result in increased glenohumeral translation, articular-sided partial-thickness supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendon tears are associated with increased glenohumeral joint laxity. Increased shoulder laxity contributes to shoulder symptoms or further glenohumeral injury in throwing athletes. Therefore, shoulder laxity needs to be considered in the treatment of articular-sided partial-thickness supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendon tears.