Rupture partielle de la coiffe des rotateurs postéro-supérieure

Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears present partial disruption of tendon fibers with no communication between the subacromial bursa and the glenohumeral joint. The clinical presentation is surprisingly variable, ranging from mild discomfort to chronic pain, decreased throwing speed and shoulder inability. The best radiological examination is the arthro-MRI. The first approach to partial-thickness rotator cuff tears is usually conservative, even if mechanical factors often result in poor spontaneous tendon healing. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) itself does seem to be responsible of clinical and radiological improvement observed after injection. No agreement has been reached on the best surgical management that includes rotator cuff “débridement”, rotator cuff or labral repair, glenoplasty and subacromial decompression if necessary.