Objective: To understand the changes of rotator cuff during tear and observe the pathologic and ultramicroscopic structure of rotator cuff.
Method: Histological and ultra thin slides of samples of 36 cases of rotator cuff were made.
Result: The degeneration of rotator cuff happened in synovium side, and then extended to the middle and deep sides of tendon. The deep side of cuff tendon could degenerate without synovium. The repair of tendon could be achieved with two types of healing.
Conclusion: It would be difficult to achieve full repair when complete tear and deep side tear occurred to the rotator cuff.