title: Combined Subscapularis Tears in Massive Posterosuperior Rotator Cuff Tears: Do They Affect Postoperative Shoulder Function and Rotator Cuff Integrity?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies on massive rotator cuff tears have not addressed the outcomes of tears extending to the subscapularis tendon.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The retear rate in patients with a massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tear combined with a subscapularis tear is higher than that in patients with a massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tear with an intact subscapularis tendon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected and analyzed from 92 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of a massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tear. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the status of the subscapularis tendon: intact subscapularis tendon (I-massive tear; n = 42), tear involving half or less than half of the subscapularis tendon (S-massive tear; n = 22), and tear involving more than half of the subscapularis tendon (L-massive tear; n = 28). The integrity of the rotator cuff was determined by ultrasonography at 4.5 and 12 months or later after surgery. Clinical evaluations were performed using the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Constant score, and active shoulder range of motion. Data were collected on the day before surgery and at final follow-up (at least 24 months postoperatively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 25 retears (27%) were identified based on an ultrasonographic evaluation. Although statistical significance was not found, there was a trend toward a higher retear rate in patients with an L-massive tear (43%) compared with those with an S-massive tear (18%; P = .050) or I-massive tear (21%; P = .059) at final follow-up. The subclassification of retears according to the involved tendons revealed that subsequent retears of the subscapularis tendon were noted only in patients with an L-massive tear. In patients with an L-massive tear, postoperative data comparison between patients with intact subscapularis tendons and those with failed subscapularis tendons revealed that a significant difference was noted in the VAS (1.1 vs 3.8, respectively) and ASES (90.6 vs 58.5, respectively) scores. The improvement in clinical scores after repair was statistically significant in all groups but not different between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The arthroscopic repair of massive tears results in substantial improvements in shoulder function, regardless of the presence of combined subscapularis tears. However, this study showed a trend toward a high failure rate for the repair of massive posterosuperior rotator cuff tears extending over half of the subscapularis tendon. Therefore, other treatment options should also be considered for this type of rotator cuff tear.
authors.affiliation: Neon Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seoung-Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoung-Weon
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Neon Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea orthopaedics11@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kyung-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: integrity; massive tear; rotator cuff; subscapularis tear