MRI of symptomatic and asymptomatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears. A comparison of findings in 100 subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Why some full-thickness rotator cuff tears are symptomatic and others are asymptomatic is not understood. By comparing MRI findings in symptomatic and asymptomatic tears, we wanted to identify any tear characteristics that differed between groups.


METHODS
50 subjects with asymptomatic and 50 subjects with symptomatic full-thickness tears were examined by MRI. Tear characteristics including tear size, tear location, the condition of the long head of the biceps, atrophy, and fatty degeneration of the muscles were compared between groups.


RESULTS
Single factor logistic regression analysis showed that there were statistically significant associations between symptoms and tear size exceeding 3 cm in the medial-lateral plane, positive tangent sign, and fatty degeneration exceeding grade 1 of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles.


CONCLUSIONS
We found associations between the symptomatic status of a rotator cuff tear and MRI-derived tear characteristics. The causal relationships are unclear.
Moosmayer
Stefan
S
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Martina Hansen's Hospital, Baerum.
Tariq
Rana
R
Stiris
Morten G
MG
Smith
Hans-Jørgen
HJ
D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000473:pathology*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*
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