Comparison of Arthroscopic Supraspinatus Tendon Tear Repair in Patients Over 60 Years With and Without Patch Augmentation.

Inclusion Criteria: * Rotator cuff tear \> 2 cm in the sagittal plane involving the supraspinatus tendon as well as at least the superior 1/3 of the infraspinatus tendon * Indicated for surgical reconstruction by arthroscopy * Patient aged 60 years and over * Consenting participation in this study by signing the Informed Consent form Exclusion Criteria: * Osteoarthritis (grade ≥ 2 after Samilson \& Prieto) * Advanced fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff muscles (Goutallier grade III or IV) * Tear of the subscapularis \> Typ 1 Lafosse (partial tears of superior 1/3 of the tendon) * Irreparable tear of the supraspinatus * General medical contraindication to surgery * Known hypersensitivity to the materials used * Revision operations * Open reconstruction * Tendon transfer necessary (latissimus dorsi or pectoralis major) * Any disease process that would preclude accurate evaluation including: * Systemic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes (insulin dependent), acute or chronic infection, abnormal bone metabolism, tumour / malignoma, psychiatric disorder * Inadequate blood flow or neuromuscular disease in the affected arm * Recent history of substance abuse * Legal incompetence * German language barrier to complete the questionnaires or * Participation in any other medical device or medicinal product study that could influence the results of the present study