Supraspinatus tears: propagation and strain alteration.

It was hypothesized that there would be an alteration in strain when macroscopically normal supraspinatus tendons were subjected to three patterns of surgically created tear. The propagation of joint-side partial-thickness tears was also examined. Cadaveric shoulders were tested on a purpose-built rig with static loading from 20 to 200 N and during glenohumeral abduction from 0 degrees to 120 degrees with a 100-N tensile load. Differential variable reluctance transducers were used to calculate strain. Six-millimeter-wide midsubstance full-thickness tears (n = 2) caused an increase in bursal-side strain both with abduction 1.93% (90 degrees ) and with loading 0.33% (150 N). Intratendinous delamination (n = 2) increased joint-side strain during abduction and bursal-side strain with loading. A 2-mm-deep tear across the tendon insertion (n = 5) increased the bursal-side strain in abduction by 3.54% (120 degrees ) and with load by 2.53% (200 N). Tear propagation was observed from joint to bursal sides during abduction. Tendon failure occurred at the insertion.