Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)

  Abstract

  Background: 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. Although many studies have focused on subscapularis tears recently,

  majority of them reported techniques for open repair. The advent of arthroscopy and

  arthroscopic repair techniques has opened new frontiers in the diagnosis and repair of

  torn rotator cuff tendons, including the subscapularis. In this article, we review shortterm

  results of arthroscopic subscapularis repair.

  Method: Ten patients with subscapularis tendon tear of the rotator cuff were studied

  prospectively including 8 men and 2 women with an average age of 49.7±12.8

  years and an average delay in treatment of 23.3 months. Clinical outcomes, including

  the UCLAscore were assessed in all patients after 3 months of the surgery.

  Results: 6 patients were followed regularly for more than 6 months, while other 4

  patients had a follow-up period of more than a year. The pain score improved from

  1.75 to 9 and the UCLA score from 8.8 to 30.6.

  Conclusions: Arthroscopic repair of subscapularis tendon tear results in significant

  subjective and objective improvement and high levels of patient satisfaction.