Diagnosis and treatment of anterosuperior rotator cuff tears

Nineteen of 407 patients who underwent rotator cuff repair surgery over a 6-year period were found to have a tear of the subscapularis in combination with the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons. Nine of these patients had an unsuccessful prior surgery, which failed to recognize the extent of the subscapularis component. Surgical repair of the subscapularis tendon required a deltopectoral approach, and repair of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus components of the tear could only be accomplished through this approach in 4 patients. In the remaining 15, an extended superior approach was required to mobilize and repair the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons. In all cases, the biceps tendon was either torn or severely degenerated, requiring tenodesis. At a mean follow-up of 40 months (range 24 to 75 months), subjective results were excellent in 5 patients, good in 3, fair in 4, and poor in 7. The modified Constant score improved to a mean of 69% (range 23% to 130%), compared with a preoperative mean of 38% (range 23% to 100%). Physical findings positive for subscapularis insufficiency persisted in 14 of 19 patients. A significant correlation (P <.05) was found between a lower Constant score and duration of symptoms longer than 6 months as well as an appearance of severe fatty degeneration and atrophy of the subscapularis muscle on magnetic resonance imaging. We conclude that anterosuperior rotator cuff tears are an infrequent configuration that may require surgical repair through an extended approach combining deltopectoral mobilization of the subscapularis with transdeltoid mobilization of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. Repair before 6 months of symptoms is associated with a better functional outcome and is the result of less involution of muscle and tendon tissue.