title: Outcome analysis of arthroscopic treatment of partial thickness rotator cuff tears.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Partial thickness rotator cuff tears occupy an important position in the spectrum of rotator cuff disease. The development of a more comprehensive classification has been sought to address both the tear location and extent, which may influence clinical results. The purpose of this study is to classify partial thickness rotator cuff tears according to the arthroscopic findings and to evaluate the clinical outcomes after arthroscopic repair of partial thickness tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and two patients had arthroscopic treatment of partial thickness rotator cuff tears. The inclusion criterion for the study was a partially torn supraspinatus tendon involving articular or bursal side, verified by direct arthroscopic visualization. Outcome analysis was exclusively applied to patients who underwent transtendon repair, using the shoulder index of American Shoulder and Elbow Society and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) rating system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Partial thickness rotator cuff tears were divided into five groups according to arthroscopic findings. There was significant improvement after surgery in all parameters of clinical evaluation in the tears that warranted repair. Arthroscopic repair in situ (transtendon technique) may be the preferred option in unstable partial thickness tear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed classification system may assist decision making in the treatment of partial thickness rotator cuff tears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, Korea.
authors.forename: Oh Soo
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: John Iv
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Kelly
keywords: Arthroscopic repair; Arthroscopy; partial thickness tears; rotator cuff; shoulder; shoulder joint; tears