What is rotator cuff tear arthropathy?
Rotator cuff tear arthropathy (or shoulder arthritis with a large rotator cuff tear) is a severe and complex form of shoulder arthritis in which the shoulder has lost not only the cartilage that normally covers its joint surface, but also the tendons of the rotator cuff tear which help position and power the joint. Normally, the tendons of the rotator cuff (large arrows) allow smooth motion of the upper end of the arm bone (humerus) beneath the overlying bones and muscles. [Figure 1] When the rotator cuff is degenerated, chronically torn or otherwise deficient, the normally smooth upper surface of the upper end of the arm bone (humeral head) is unprotected from rubbing with the undersurface of the bone and ligaments above as shown by the large arrow.[Figure 2] In cuff tear arthropathy, the upper surface of the ball of the upper arm bone (humeral head) becomes roughened as it rubs against the overlying bone (the acromion) as shown by the arrow [Figure 3]. This condition results in shoul
