Diagnosis of rotator cuff tears.
Rotator cuff tears account for almost 50% of major shoulder injuries but are sometimes difficult to diagnose. To aid diagnosis, we did a prospective study, comparing results of 23 clinical tests from 400 patients with and without rotator cuff tears. Three simple tests were predictive for rotator cuff tear: supraspinatus weakness, weakness in external rotation, and impingement. When all three were positive, or if two tests were positive and the patient was aged 60 or older, the individual had a 98% chance of having a rotator cuff tear; combined absence of these features excluded this diagnosis.
G A
GA
Murrell
J R
JR
Walton
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis