Participate in Research at CU Anschutz

Adult

¿ Aged ≥50 years to <85 years ¿ Shoulder pain and/or loss 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 (see Table 1: ASA Physical Status Classifications and Examples)Subject Inclusion Criteria In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria: ¿ Aged ≥50 years to <85 years ¿ Shoulder pain and/or loss 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 (see Table 1: ASA Physical Status Classifications and Examples) ¿ Ability and willingness to provide informed consent Subject Exclusion Criteria Any individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: ¿ 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 (see TABLE 2: Trauma Classification) ¿ Shoulder used as a weight-bearing joint ¿ Contraindication to MRI (claustrophobia, pacemaker, pregnancy, shoulder implant, etc.) ¿ Glenohumeral osteoarthritis on xrays/MRI ¿ Grade 4 fatty infiltration of rotator cuff (any tendons) ¿ Candidate for reverse shoulder arthroplasty or total shoulder arthroplasty at baseline ¿ Non-English speaking (questionnaires only validated in English) ¿ 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)