<qa>  What is the most common treatment for full thickness tears of the rotator cuff?Surgical repair of full thickness tears of the rotator cuff is a controversial issue, with several procedures currently being used to treat the tear. The two most common treatments at this point in time are arthroscopic cuff repair with and without acromioplasty. However, an arthroscopic cuff repair without acromioplasty may offer the same degree of improvement as one that includes acromioplasty, but without threatening the shoulder stability that is provided by the acromion and coracoacromial ligament. This prospective study examines the hypothesis that appropriate shoulder function can be restored through the execution of the traditional arthroscopic cuff repair without acromioplasty. 