We have been treating patients with rotator cuff tears by arthroscopic debridement (AD). We investigated our clinical outcome of AD and the character of the patients who have had a repair of rotator cuff tear after AD (RRCT group). From 1995 to 2000, we retrospectively studied 34 patients (23 males and 11 females). Their mean age at AD was 63.5 years old, and the mean follow-up period was 18.8 months (range 6-36). The tear types were 26 complete tears and 8 incomplete tears. The RRCT group was 5 males and 2 females. The tear types and occupations were investigated for the RRCT group. The tear types of the RRCT group were 5 complete tears (1 small, 3 medium, 1 massive) and 2 incomplete tears. The occupations of the RRCT group were farmers, fishermen and manual laborers. Character of the RRCT group was complete tear (medium) and under 70 years old. AD is useful for reducing pain of rotator cuff tears, but a cuff repair should be considered for patients who had a complete tear (medium) and who are under 75 years old.