title: Traumatic full-thickness transtendinous rotator cuff tears: a case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to describe an arthroscopic repair technique for and outcomes of traumatic transtendinous rotator cuff tears affecting the supraspinatus tendon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed on a series of patients between January 2009 and January 2012. Demographic data, as well as preoperative and postoperative clinical data including strength, visual analog scale pain score, Subjective Shoulder Value, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and Simple Shoulder Test score, were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients were identified with magnetic resonance imaging showing full-thickness, transtendon supraspinatus tears with extension into the infraspinatus, which were consistent with physical examination and arthroscopic findings. The mechanism of injury was traumatic in all cases, usually a fall with the arm abducted. The mean remaining stump of tendon measured 1.3 cm. All patients underwent open or arthroscopic repair by a side-to-side (tendon-to-tendon) technique with additional suture anchor augmentation. At an average follow-up of 41.5 months (range, 33-50 months), all patients had postoperative improvements in strength and visual analog scale pain scores (range, 0-1), as well as Subjective Shoulder Value, Simple Shoulder Test, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores greater than 90.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have described the occurrence of a rare rotator cuff tear in the purely tendinous portion of the muscle, leaving at least 1 cm of tendon attached to an intact footprint. We also have presented an arthroscopic side-to-side repair technique and postoperative outcomes. To our knowledge, this is the first article describing this uncommon rotator cuff tear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Marie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Walcott
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sinz
authors.affiliation: Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
authors.forename: Larry D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Field
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: ldhiggins@partners.org.
authors.forename: Laurence D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Higgins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053441:Suture Anchors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Transtendinous; case series; full thickness; outcomes; rotator cuff repair; side-to-side repair; traumatic rotator cuff tear