title: Full-thickness rotator cuff tear prevalence and correlation with function and co-morbidities in patients sixty-five years and older.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine full-thickness rotator cuff tear prevalence in patients 65 and older and to correlate tears with comfort, function, and co-morbidities. Two-hundred shoulders without prior surgery were evaluated with a Simple Shoulder Test, a Constant Score, and ultrasound. Full thickness tear prevalence was 22%. Adjusting for age and gender, those with tears had lower scores than those without (P < .001 for each). Adjusting for many potential confounders, with a 10-year age increase, the odds of a tear increased 2.69-fold (P = .005). For those with tears, scores were no different for those who had seen a physician for their shoulder compared to those who had not. Full-thickness cuff tear prevalence was 22% in those 65 and older. Tear prevalence increased with increasing age. Shoulder scores were poorer for those with tears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE 68198-1080, USA. evfehringer@unmc.edu
authors.forename: Edward V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Fehringer
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Lucas S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: VanOeveren
authors.forename: Brenda K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Frederick A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Matsen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*