• American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Shoulder Rating Questionnaire [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Functional Shoulder Elevation Test [ Time Frame: Baseline, 6, 12, 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Range of motion [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Strength [ Time Frame: Baseline, 3, 6, 12, 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Score
• Shoulder Rating Questionnaire
• Functional Shoulder Elevation Test
• Range of motion
• Strength

This study compares standard open rotator cuff repair versus arthroscopic mini-open rotator cuff repair by measuring the disease-specific quality of life at 2 years in patients with full thickness rotator cuff tears.

Hypothesis: There is no difference in disease-specific quality of life outcome at two years between open versus arthroscopic mini-open repair for patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

Rotator cuff injury affects a diverse group of patients and leads to significant disability with respect to lost time from work and the inability to play sports, thereby affecting the individual's quality of life.

The standard treatment for full-thickness rotator cuff repair is with an open acromioplasty procedure. An alternative procedure for a full-thickness rotator cuff tear is with a combined procedure of arthroscopic acromioplasty and mini-open repair, which has the potential advantages of a preserved deltoid origin, lower perioperative morbidity, shorter hospital stays and less soft tissue dissection. The progression towards arthroscopic repair requires a comparison to the standard, open procedure for full-thickness rotator cuff tears, using validated outcomes in a randomized fashion.

This study is designed as a multi-centre randomized controlled trial with a priori sample size calculation of 28 patients per group. Patients presenting with unremitting pain, failed conservative treatment of at least 3 months, weakness of the rotator cuff and positive imaging indicating a full-thickness rotator cuff tear are eligible for the study. Previous surgery on the affected shoulder and massive rotator cuff tears are excluded. Patients are randomized using computer-generated block randomization, stratified by surgeon, to either open or mini-open rotator cuff repair.

Disease-specific quality of life is assessed using the validated Rotator Cuff Quality of Life Questionnaire, a self-administered, 34-item questionnaire designed specifically to assess patients before and after surgery. It utilizes a visual analog scale scored out of 100, with a higher score reflecting a better quality of life.

• Procedure: Open acromioplasty with rotator cuff repair
• Procedure: Arthroscopic acromioplasty with mini-open repair

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with unremitting pain in the affected shoulder who have failed conservative treatment for at least 3 months
• Weakness of rotator cuff (MRC grades 4-, 4 or 4+)
• Positive diagnostic imaging on the affected shoulder indicating a full-thickness rotator cuff tear which may include arthrogram, ultrasound or MRI
• Age > 18 years
• English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• A massive rotator cuff tear as demonstrated by Grade 3 or less muscle strength on testing internal and external rotation of the affected shoulder
• Previous surgery to the affected shoulder

• Workers' Compensation Board - Alberta
• Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation