title: Prevalence and characteristics of asymptomatic tears of the rotator cuff: an ultrasonographic and clinical study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Martina Hansen's Hospital, P B 23, 1306 Baerum Postterminal, Norway. st.moos@online.no
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moosmayer
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larmo
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography