Mechanics and differential healing outcomes of small and large defect injuries of the tendon-bone attachment in the rat rotator cuff.

Introduction: Rotator cuff tear size affects clinical outcomes following rotator cuff repair and is correlated with the risk of recurrent tendon defects. This study aimed to understand if and how the initial defect size influences the structural and mechanical outcomes of the injured rotator cuff attachment in vivo.

Methods: Full-thickness punch injuries of the infraspinatus tendon-bone attachment in Long Evans rats were created to compare differences in healing outcomes between small and large defects.