title: [Treatment and research progress of massive rotator cuff tears].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the progress in the treatment and research of massive rotator cuff tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent literatures about the treatment and research of massive rotator cuff tears were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment options of massive rotator cuff tears include nonoperative treatment, debridement, direct repair, tendon transfer, and repair with various substitutes, but the outcome is unpredictable. Recently, many experimental studies on the treatment of massive rotator cuff tears, such as gene therapy, cell therapy, and tissue engineering techniques, can provide clinicians with new treatment strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment of massive rotator cuff tears pose a distinct clinical challenge for the orthopaedist, depending on the overall presentation. The effect of traditional operation method to repair massive rotator cuff tears is limited. The treatment and research of massive rotator cuff tears still need to be studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu Sichuan, 610041, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guoming
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fuguo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tingwu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000628:therapy*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries