title: Massive irreparable tendon tears of the rotator cuff: salvage options.
abstract: The management of massive, irreparable rotator cuff tears is challenging. Arthroscopic débridement has produced reasonable short-term outcomes in patients who experience good relief from pain and improved range of motion after a subacromial injection with local anesthetic. Arthroscopic débridement with partial repair also has resulted in good outcomes, especially in patients with documented suprascapular nerve traction neurapraxia. Tendon transfer can offer a long-lasting solution in a patient with a weak shoulder who still has the ability to raise the shoulder past the horizontal position. Shoulder replacement with the use of a reverse prosthesis has emerged as a viable option in patients with pseudoparalysis with or without osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Bassem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elhassan
authors.forename: Nathan K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Endres
authors.forename: Laurence D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Jon J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Warner
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013709:Tendon Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices