The Use of an Intra-Articular Depth Guide in the Measurement of Partial Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears

Table 1

Measurements of the exposed footprint, total tendon thickness, and percentage of tendon thickness torn in cadaveric shoulders with simulated partial thickness articular surface rotator cuff tears using the methods of comparison to a known size, the intra-articular depth guide, and true anatomic measures.

	Conventional technique		Depth guide		True anatomic measure
	Mean	Range	Mean	Range	Mean	Range
Exposed footprint	5.5 mm	4 mm–8 mm	6.8 mm	5 mm–10 mm	6.9 mm	5 mm–10 mm
Total tendon thickness	14.5 mm	10 mm–18 mm	13.5 mm	11 mm–20 mm	13.6 mm	11 mm–22 mm
Percentage of thickness torn	39%	22%–50%	52%	30%–76%	54%	27%–72%