Arthroscopic Repair of Intratendinous Horizontal Tear of the Rotator Cuff

Abstract

We reported on five cases of intratendinous horizontal tear of the rotator cuff ( IHRCT: supraspinatus tendon). There were five men, whose mean age at surgery was thirty-one. Common findings of the physical examination: were no tenderness at the greater tuberosity; positive impingement sign; no glenohumeral contracture. MRI( T2: FSE) showed a liner high intensity area in the supraspinatus tendon, T2^*(GRE) showed a higher intensity, and less signal changes around the higher intensity area A wavy appearance of the tendon was seen by bursoscopy. After making a trial incision at the lateral aspect of the rotator cuff insertion, the torn site of the cuff was cleaned using a shaver, and tenorrhaphy with a suture anchor were performed. The mean follow-up period after surgery was nineteen months (6-32 months). The mean JOA shoulder score improved to 94points (73.7 points before surgery; p=.01: Paired t-test). The combination of MRI (T2/T2^*) and bursoscopic evaluation was useful for the diagnosis of IHRCT. High-intensity of the mid-layer even in T2might be a definitively positive sign of IHRCT, and which showed less degenerative findings in T2^* a good indication for arthroscopic repair.