Summary. This review is based on 66 patients with partial-thickness tears of the rotator cuff, verified at operation. Their average age was 54 years, and all had symptoms of subacromial impingement. The duration of shoulder pain was for between 2 and 108 months (mean 11.4 months). Ultrasonography, arthrography and bursography were helpful in establishing the diagnosis. On exploration, tears were found in the supraspinatus tendon, with 9 extending into the infraspinatus. After anterior acromioplasty, excision of the diseased portion and tenorrhaphy were undertaken. Satisfactory results were obtained in 62 patients (94%) with an average follow-up of 32 months. Spontaneous repair at the torn site was never seen. In addition to Neer’s staging of impingement, we propose a new classification based on the integrity of the cuff tendon. We conclude that a partial-thickness cuff tear is an important cause of shoulder disability, which deserves much more clinical attention; misdiagnosis is common and leads to mismanagement. When conservative treatment fails, accurate diagnosis and proper surgical repair are essential.
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Fukuda, H., Hamada, K., Nakajima, T. et al. Partial-thickness tears of the rotator cuff . International Orthopaedics SICOT 20, 257–265 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002640050075
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002640050075