title: Do partial thickness, bursal side cuff tears affect outcome following arthroscopic subacromial decompression? A prospective comparative cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to compare medium-term clinical outcomes of patients following arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASAD): those with intact rotator cuff with two groups of increasing size of partial thickness bursal-side tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy by a single surgeon had pre- and postoperative Constant scores prospectively recorded. Arthroscopic surgery included the assessment of any supraspinatus tears using the Ellman criteria, as well as ASAD and cuff debridement. Groups were created based on the status of rotator cuff and size of bursal tear. Outcome in these patient groups was then compared and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four patients were suitable for inclusion in the study: 32 patients without a cuff tear; 21 patients with a cuff tear of 9 mm or less in length; and 21 patients with a cuff tear of 10 mm or more in length. Baseline characteristics of the three groups were similar. All three groups showed a significant improvement in their Constant scores following surgery. There was, however, no significant difference in Constant scores between the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study show that patients with varying sizes of bursal-side tears respond to ASAD as well as those with no rotator cuff tear.
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Lawson-Smith
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors: Mohammed
authors: M
authors: Al-Maiyah
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors: Lorna
authors: L
authors: Goodchild
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors: J M Brendan
authors: JM
authors: Fourie
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Finn
authors: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors: Amar
authors: A
authors: Rangan
keywords: ASAD; Arthroscopic subacromial decompression; partial thickness rotator cuff tears