Overview
This is non-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Patients will be randomly assigned to either an operative or non-operative course of treatment and will be followed for 12 months from baseline.
Aim 1: To compare pain and function in patients undergoing operative versus non-operative treatment of atraumatic rotator cuff tears at 12 months of follow-up
Aim 2: To assess effects of rotator cuff tear size and age on comparative outcomes of operative versus non-operative treatments for atraumatic rotator cuff tears
Principal investigator
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Aged =\>40 years to \<85 years
* Shoulder pain and/or loss of range of active motion, strength or function
* MRI-confirmed partial- or full-thickness supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus tear of 4cm or less in longitudinal dimension
* Medically fit for surgery, defined as Category I-III per American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification
* Ability and willingness to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Primary diagnosis is something other than a rotator cuff tear
* History (in last 2 years) of shoulder fracture involving the humeral head on affected side
* Previous rotator cuff surgery on affected side
* Isolated subscapularis \&/or teres minor tear on affected side
* Acute rotator cuff tear caused by a severe trauma
* Shoulder used as a weight-bearing joint
* Contraindication to MRI (claustrophobia, pacemaker, pregnancy, shoulder implant, etc.)
* Glenohumeral osteoarthritis on xrays/MRI, as determined by recruiting MD
* Grade 4 fatty infiltration of rotator cuff (any tendons)
* Candidate for shoulder arthroplasty at baseline
* Non-English speaking
* Aged =\>40 years to \<85 years
* Shoulder pain and/or loss of range of active motion, strength or function
* MRI-confirmed partial- or full-thickness supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus tear of 4cm or less in longitudinal dimension
* Medically fit for surgery, defined as Category I-III per American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status Classification
* Ability and willingness to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Primary diagnosis is something other than a rotator cuff tear
* History (in last 2 years) of shoulder fracture involving the humeral head on affected side
* Previous rotator cuff surgery on affected side
* Isolated subscapularis \&/or teres minor tear on affected side
* Acute rotator cuff tear caused by a severe trauma
* Shoulder used as a weight-bearing joint
* Contraindication to MRI (claustrophobia, pacemaker, pregnancy, shoulder implant, etc.)
* Glenohumeral osteoarthritis on xrays/MRI, as determined by recruiting MD
* Grade 4 fatty infiltration of rotator cuff (any tendons)
* Candidate for shoulder arthroplasty at baseline
* Non-English speaking
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