Operative Versus Non-Operative Treatment for Atraumatic Rotator Cuff Tears

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

5U34AR069201-02 NIH grant funded the preparatory work for the trial but not the trial itself.

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
• Severe problems with maintaining follow-up expected (such as, but not limited to, history of substance abuse, homelessness/incarceration, dementia, brain injury, and psychotic disorders)