Subscapularis tears: arthroscopic repair techniques

The advent of arthroscopy and arthroscopic repair techniques has opened new frontiers in the diagnosis and repair of torn rotator cuff tendons. Until recently arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs have been limited to the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons. Now arthroscopic subscapularis repair has advanced to the forefront. Despite being the largest rotator cuff tendon of the shoulder, the function and clinical relevance of subscapularis pathology has been largely ignored in the literature. Most recent studies have focused on open subscapularis repairs, failing to describe the technique of arthroscopic repair and the subsequent outcome of arthroscopic repairs. In this article, the surgical rationale, technique, and preliminary results of arthroscopic subscapularis repair are reviewed.