(Purpose) The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the results of the operative procedures for an incomplete tear of the rotator cuff comparing them with the results for a complete tear.
(Materials and Methods) In the last four years, we operated on 15 shoulders with an incomplete tear (group A) and 37 shoulders with a complete tear (group B) of the supraspinatus tendon. In group A, eight bursal side tears and 7 rim rents were involved. Neer's anterior acromioplasties were performed in all of the cases. In 7 cases, trimming and full-thickness resection at the end of the partially torn cuff and then McLaughlin's suturing were performed. Side-to-side sutures for 3longitudinal incomplete tears, and simple sutures for two flap tears were used. In all cases of group B, anterior acromioplasty (Neer) and McLaughlin's suturing were performed. The avarage ages of group A and B were 48 and 53 years old, respectively.
(Results) According to the JOA's evaluation system,13 shoulders of the 15 incomplete tears had excellent results and 2 were poor. One of the 2 poor results had a re-rupture of the flap tear.
(Conclusion) The results suggest that the most important thing is to maintain the end of a partially torn cuff. Trimming and a special suturing technique seem necessary.
