2025 AAOS Annual Meeting: Prospective randomized clinical trial of arthroscopic repair versus debridement for partial subscapularis tendon tears more than half of the entire first facet

Sixty-five patients with partial subscapularis tendon tears involving more than half of the first facet were randomized to receive either arthroscopic repair (n=32) or arthroscopic debridement (n=33). The primary outcome of interest was clinical function, measured by range of motion and validated shoulder scores. Secondary outcomes of interest included pain and function visual analog scale scores, Constant score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, subscapularis muscle strength, and MRI findings (muscle diameter and fatty infiltration). Outcomes were assessed preoperatively, and at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 5 years postoperatively. Overall, the results of the study revealed no significant differences in clinical scores or imaging findings between groups; however, the repair group showed significantly greater subscapularis muscle strength at 5 years (P = .013). These findings suggest that while both treatments yield similar clinical outcomes, arthroscopic repair may offer a long-term advantage in muscle strength.