Rotator cuff tear surgery, although intellectually interesting, does not seem to demonstrate a statistically significant clinical difference. Biceps tenotomy and tenodesis are are often performed concomitantly with rotator cuff repair or as separate procedures and can be a sole or concomitant cause of shoulder pain. Tenodesis, which may be performed as an arthroscopic or open procedure, generally restores pain free motion it the biceps tendon, or attached portion of the labrum, is the cause of the pain. Tenotomy is a shorter surgery, requiring less rehabilitation, that doctors tend to recommended for older patients who don't mind the cosmetic 'popeye sign' that sometimes is
Rotator cuff tear is usually required to reattach the tendon to the bone. If a significant bone spur is present, any of the approaches may include an acromioplasty, a subacromial decompression, as part of the procedure. Subacromial decompression, removal of a small portion of the acromion that overlies the rotator cuff, aims to relieve pressure on the rotator cuff in certain conditions and promote healing and recovery. Although subacromial decompression may be beneficial in the management of partial and full-thickness tear repair, it does not repair the tear itself and arthroscopic decompression has more recently been combined with "mini-open" repair of the rotator