An Arthroscopy-Assisted Mini-Invasive Technique to Create a Chronic Rabbit Model With Massive and Retracted Supraspinatus Rotator Cuff Tears

Understanding the pathophysiology of rotator cuff tears (RCTs) in animal models is of great importance, as it helps in the development of repair strategies and therapeutic treatments for rotator cuff diseases in humans. This Technical Note describes a comprehensive step-by-step description of an arthroscopic-assisted minimally invasive RCT model in rabbits. This technique is beneficial because the rabbit has rotator cuffs anatomically similar to those of humans, and it has been widely used as a preclinical animal model in the basic science literature. Compared with other small animals (e.g., mice and rats), the advantage of the rabbit model is that it can test the effectiveness and healing process of new surgical repair techniques that require relatively larger anatomical structures. Moreover, it is more cost-effective compared with larger animal models, such as sheep and canines. This arthroscopic-assisted mini-invasive technique to create an RCT model may have a better effect on simulating the degenerative and chronic RCT state in humans than the commonly used open surgery, along with an earlier return to activities, less scarring and tissue adhesion, fewer injuries to the deltoid, and fewer complications.