Higher fasting plasma glucose levels within the normoglycaemic range and rotator cuff tears.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the plasma glucose levels in non-diabetic patients with rotator cuff tear.


METHODS
Frequency-matched case-control study.


METHODS
University Teaching Hospital.


METHODS
The study included 194 subjects who were operated on at our institution. Group 1 included 97 consecutive patients (36 men and 61 women; mean age: 62.9 years, range 37 to 82) who underwent arthroscopic repair of a rotator cuff tear in 2007 and 2008. Group 2 (control group) included 97 patients (36 men and 61 women; mean age: 61.6 years, range 36 to 80) who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy for a meniscal tear in the same period, and had no evidence of shoulder pathology. These patients were frequency-matched by age (within 3 years) and gender with patients of Group 1.


METHODS
Measurement of fasting plasma glucose levels.


RESULTS
Patients with rotator cuff tears (Group 1) showed statistically significantly higher fasting plasma glucose levels within the normoglycaemic range (p = 0.007) than patients with meniscal tear (Group 2).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that normal, but in the high range of normal, increasing plasma glucose levels may be a risk factor for rotator cuff tear. An enhanced understanding of these factors holds the promise of new approaches to the prevention and management of rotator cuff tears.
Longo
U G
UG
Department of Orthopaedicand Trauma Surgery, Campus Biomedico University, Rome, Italy.
Franceschi
F
F
Ruzzini
L
L
Spiezia
F
F
Maffulli
N
N
Denaro
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries
D001786:Blood Glucose