Full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears with intact superior glenohumeral capsule.
Fourteen of 318 consecutive shoulder arthroscopies performed over 5 years were found to have a complete tear of the supraspinatus tendon with an intact superior glenohumeral joint capsule. All tears were surgically repaired into a bony trough in the greater tuberosity. All of these tears were found in the past 2 years, representing the last 155 arthroscopies performed. This would indicate that there were probably similar lesions that were missed in earlier cases. This represents a significant pitfall injury that may yield a negative arthrogram and may be overlooked in arthroscopic shoulder surgery unless close inspection of the bursal side of the rotator cuff is accomplished.
Grant
L B
LB
Orthopaedic Center of the Rockies, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525.
D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors