Irreparable rotator cuff tear-reverse shoulder arthroplasty and alternative procedures

Irreparable rotator cuff tears represent a significant everyday clinical challenge. A high degree of tendon retraction and muscle degeneration means that a direct reconstruction is impossible. Patients often suffer from pain and pseudoparalysis. In older patients this can reliably be resolved by the implantation of a semiconstrained inverse shoulder prosthesis; however, for younger patients joint-preserving techniques should be employed. Furthermore, for frail older patients who may not be suitable for a joint replacement operation, alternative treatment strategies are required. Management options include physiotherapy and pain relieving or reconstructive operations. Minimally invasive arthroscopic treatment approaches can lead to pain relief and slight functional improvements in selected patients; however, to restore the active movement of the joint a partial cuff repair, augmentation with a graft or replacement with muscle transfer is necessary. This article presents the various treatment options and the results reported in the literature. Through this a treatment algorithm is suggested in order to facilitate management decisions.