title: Does presence of anterior greater tuberosity cysts change the function in patients with chronic rotator cuff tear?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to compare rotator cuff muscle atrophy with fatty degeneration, tear size, range of motion, shoulder muscle strength, pain and upper extremity function in patients with chronic rotator cuff tear, and with or without anterior greater tuberosity cyst.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 101 patients (32 males, 69 females; mean age 51 ± 12.9 years; range 17 to 76 years) were evaluated in this study. Fifty-eight patients were excluded due to traumatic or acute rotator cuff tears and neck pain. Forty-three patients of chronic rotator cuff tear were divided into two groups as patients with (n=15) and without (n=28) an anterior greater tuberosity cyst. Patients were evaluated for range of motion, shoulder muscle strength, pain and upper extremity function, and radiologically. Statistical differences were investigated between two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of patients with tears larger than 1 cm and the number of patients who had muscle atrophy were higher in the group of patients with a cyst. Also, upper extremity function was reduced in the group of patients with a cyst (Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index, p=0.03, Nine-Hole Peg Test, p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrated that decreased function, larger cuff tears and muscle atrophy can be observed patients with anterior greater tuberosity cysts. Anterior greater tuberosity cysts can be detected by plain X-rays. The presence of these cysts should warn the physician regarding the possibility of decreased shoulder function, muscle atrophy and larger cuff tear before ordering a magnetic resonance imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Gazi University Faculty of Health Sciences, 06500 Beşevler, Ankara, Turkey. seldabsr@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Selda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Başar
authors.forename: Ulunay
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kanatlı
authors.forename: Seyit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cıtaker
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bölükbaşı
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000150:complications; D001845:Bone Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000503:physiopathology; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult