Objective To study the effect of autologous periosteum on the healing of tendon-bone interface in rabbit rotator cuff tear. Methods Supraspinatus tenotomy was performed on one side shoulder in 60 New Zealand white rabbits to establish the model of rotator cuff tear. The rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: the study group (used autologous periosteum to promote the suture fixation) and control group (simple suture fixation). The rabbits were sacrificed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively with twenty rabbits sacrificed each time. Tissue samples of the tendon-bone interface was taken for histological examination and biomechanical test was performed to assess the strength of tendon-bone junction. Results At 4 weeks the study group showed extensive inflammatory cell infiltration, and a small amount of chondrocytes and extracellular matrix. At 8 weeks, the study group showed a large amount of immature chondrocytes arranged rather regularly. At 12 weeks, the tendon bone junction appeared similar to normal. In the study group, both the tendon-bone connection and the arrangement of chondrocytes were significantly better than the control group. The result of biomechanical testing showed that the highest tendon load in the study group was significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The use of autologous periosteum as a patch to strengthen the repair of the rotator cuff tear can effectively promote the healing of tendon bone interface, shorten the rotator cuff healing time and has good biological properties. This method provides an experimental basis for clinical rotator cuff repair surgery.