抄録
This paper describes the pathogenesis and surgery of incomplete superficial surface tears of the rotator cuff (ISRCTs)based on our surgical experiences. Fifty-two shoulders of 51 patients who had ISRCTs were operated on between 1979 and 1990. Thirty-six patients were men and 15 women, with an average age of 50.8 years. This lesion could be divided into two groups; the one caused by overuse and the other caused by direct trauma. At operation, the severity of ISRCTs could be classified between grade 1 and 4 (erosion, crater, stump, peeling-off) according to the torn shape and the depth. Forty-six shoulders of 45 patients could be followed-up (ay.5 years) for this study. Forty-one shoulders were graded excellent but the remaining 5 shoulders, in which the torn cuff had been repaired, had considerable tension.
Our operative procedure, combining acromioplasty, subacromial bursectomy, enough mobilization of the cuff and reattachment of the cuff to the greater tuberosity after resection of the avascularized cuff tissues, was effective.
