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Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 91-B, Issue 2, 196-200.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.91B2.21069  
Copyright © 2009 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery
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Prevalence and characteristics of asymptomatic tears of the rotator cuff

AN ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL STUDY

S. Moosmayer, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; H.-J. Smith, MD, PhD, Professor2; R. Tariq, MD, Radiologist3; and A. Larmo, MD, Radiologist3

1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Martina Hansen’s Hospital, P B 23, 1306 Baerum Postterminal, Norway.
2 Department of Radiology Rikshospitalet University Hospital. 0027 Oslo, Norway.
3 Capio Diagnostics, Middelthunsgate 23, 0368 Oslo, Norway.

Correspondence should be sent to Dr S. Moosmayer; e-mail: st.moos{at}online.no

We undertook clinical and ultrasonographic examination of the shoulders of 420 asymptomatic volunteers aged between 50 and 79 years. MRI was performed in selected cases. Full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff were detected in 32 subjects (7.6%). The prevalence increased with age as follows: 50 to 59 years, 2.1%; 60 to 69 years, 5.7%; and 70 to 79 years, 15%. The mean size of the tear was less than 3 cm and tear localisation was limited to the supraspinatus tendon in most cases (78%). The strength of flexion was reduced significantly in the group with tears (p = 0.01).

Asymptomatic tears of the rotator cuff should be regarded as part of the normal ageing process in the elderly but may be less common than hitherto believed.




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Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General