Arthroscopic Treatment of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears With Debridement and Biodegradable Spacer.

The study is designed as a double blinded randomized controlled trial. The physiotherapist responsible for the clinical testing and the patient are both blinded. The surgeon knows which group the patient is in but is not responsible for any of the testing. We will randomize with envelopes perioperatively. The participants are randomized in hence "ballon" or "not ballon". In advance of the randomization the surgeon will evaluate if the patient is candidate for partial suture before randomization. We plan to stratify the patients with partial suture to ensure homogeneity between the groups.

The operation will start with arthroscopic debridement and biceps tenotomy in both groups. The patients are thereby evaluated for partial suture and randomized. The insertion of the subacromial spacer is done at the end of the operation for those patients randomized to the group "balloon". Peroperatively the surgeon will classify the grade of osteoarthritis with Outerbridge classification and the state of the rotator cuff and the long head of the biceps tendon.

Postoperative mobilization will be the following:

• 0-2 weeks: Immobilization in a sling. The participant is advised to do simple exercises for shoulder mobilization. Restriction of movement above shoulder level.
• 2-6 weeks: Free mobilization. Advised to avoid heavy lifting.
• 6-12 weeks: Work on increasing range of motion, gradually introduce weight lifting.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients suffering from a symptomatic massive rotator cuff tear, with fatty infiltration grade 3 or 4 classified on CT by Goutallier et al, or MRI by Fuchs classification.
• Persistent pain for at least 3 months, with documented failure of conservative treatment
• Age ranging from 60 years of age to 85 years of age

Exclusion criteria

• Significant shoulder osteoarthritis in the affected shoulder, Hamada classification >2.
• Total rupture of subscapularis tendon and/or teres minor, classified B and E in the Collins classification.
• Comorbidity to the degree that the patient will not be able to participate in the follow up program.