Rotator cuff tears: pathology and repair

By virtue of its anatomy and function, the rotator cuff is vulnerable to considerable morbidity, often necessitating surgical intervention. The factors contributing to cuff disease can be divided into those extrinsic to the rotator cuff (most notably impingement) and those intrinsic to the cuff (age-related degeneration, hypovascularity and inflammation amongst others). In an era of emerging biologic interventions, our interventions are increasingly being modulated by our understanding of these core processes, many of which remain uncertain today. When we do intervene surgically, the techniques we employ are particularly challenging in the context of the tremendous pace of advancement. Several recent studies have shown that arthroscopic repair gives similar functional results to that of mini-open and open procedures, with all the benefits of minimally invasive surgery. However, the ‘best’ repair construct remains unknown, with wide variations in surgeon preference. Here we present a literature review encompassing recent developments in our understanding of basic science in rotator cuff disease as well as an up-to-date evidence-based comparison of different techniques available to the surgeon for cuff repair.