154 patients over the age of 70 were randomized to receive either arthroscopic repair or subacromial decompression to treat a torn rotator cuff. The goal of this study was to determine the clinical results and influencing factors on the clinical outcomes in patients with a torn rotator cuff. Results found that arthroscopic repair had significantly better clinical results than subacromial decompression. No correlation between age and outcome was found. Additionally, the difference in results was exaggerated in patients with lower fatty infiltration than higher fatty infiltration.