title: How do massive immobile rotator cuff tears behave after arthroscopic interval slides? Comparison with mobile tears.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  the aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes of contracted immobile massive rotator cuff tears mobilised through an arthroscopic interval slide technique versus massive mobile cuff tears directly repaired without any mobilisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  twenty-five patients who underwent arthroscopic repair for massive rotator cuff tears with a minimum of 18 months follow-up were included. The patients were retrospectively divided into two groups. In group 1, a single or double interval slide was performed to achieve adequate tendon mobilisation. In group 2 (control group), massive rotator cuff tears were arthroscopically repaired without any additional release. Patients were evaluated with validated outcomes scores: subjective and objective Constant score, a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  the two groups were comparable in terms of age, gender and involvement of the dominant arm. The mean follow-up duration was 31 months in group 1 and 28 months in group 2 (p = 0.4). The two groups showed no significant differences in SANE and VAS results (group 1: SANE 77%, VAS 1.3; group 2: SANE 88%, VAS 1.6), or in total Constant score (group 1: 66.5 ± 11; group 2: 75 ± 14; p = 0.1) and subjective Constant score (Group 1: 31 ± 5; group 2: 30.8 ± 7; p = 0.9). A significant difference was found for the objective Constant score, which was higher in the control group (group 1: 35.5 ± 7; group 2: 44 ± 8; p = 0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjective clinical outcomes of arthroscopic repair with or without interval slides did not differ and were satisfactory. Objectively, immobile cuff tears showed inferior results. The use of interval slides might be considered a first step or an alternative to more invasive procedures for low demanding patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level III, retrospective comparative study.
authors.affiliation: IrCCS Policlinico San Donato Hospital, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fossati
authors.affiliation: IrCCS Policlinico San Donato Hospital, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arrigoni
authors.affiliation: IrCCS Policlinico San Donato Hospital, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ragone
authors.affiliation: IrCCS Policlinico San Donato Hospital, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spennacchio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Health Sciences, university of Milan, Milan, Italy ; IrCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Banfi
authors.affiliation: IrCCS Policlinico San Donato Hospital, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Randelli
authors.affiliation: IrCCS Policlinico San Donato Hospital, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy ; Department of Biomedical Health Sciences, university of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Randelli
keywords: arthroscopic repair; immobile tears; interval slide; massive tears; rotator cuff