title: Causes of pain and loss of function in rotator cuff disease: analysis of 1383 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The New Zealand Rotator Cuff Registry is a multicentre, nationwide prospective study of rotator cuff repairs established in March 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1383 rotator cuff repairs were included in this study, all with completed baseline Flex-SF scores, pain scores and standardized operative forms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increasing tear size and tear retraction, over 4 cm, were associated with decreasing Flex-SF scores but not pain. Tear area (a composite of tear size and retraction) is increased with advancing age, male gender and a traumatic history but not with smoking. Increased pain scores were associated with supraspinatus (SS) single tears, compared to subscapularis tears, and with labral tears. SS/infraspinatus tears had lower Flex-SF scores compared to subscapularis/SS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study presents the relationship between baseline function, pain and tear characteristics in symptomatic rotator cuff tears. Increasing tear size and retraction are related to a loss of function but have minimal effect upon pain. Pain generators included labral pathology, and the involvement of SS. The intraoperative appearance of the long head of biceps pathology did not predict baseline pain and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Wanganui Hospital, Wanganui, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Orthosports North Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Leigh
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Orthosports North Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brick
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, North Shore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caughey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012042:Registries; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D012421:Rupture / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: function; long head of biceps; pain; registry; rotator cuff tear