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Partial-thickness articular surface rotator cuff tears in patients over the age of 35: Etiology and intra-articular associations


1 Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Upper Limb Unit, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, United Kingdom
2 Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Upper Limb Unit, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX; University of Warwick Faculty of Medicine, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom

Correspondence Address:
Chetan S Modi
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX
United Kingdom
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0973-6042.94309

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Year : 2012  |  Volume : 6  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 15-18

 

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Purpose: Partial-thickness articular-sided rotator cuff tears have a multifactorial etiology and are associated with degeneration of the tendon. They are often described as an injury of the young athlete, although they are also found in the older population. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and associations of partial-thickness articular-sided tears in patients over the age of 35 years. Design: Retrospective Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of all arthroscopic procedures for rotator cuff pathology in patients over the age of 35 years over a 2-year period by a single surgeon was performed. The included patients were divided into two groups based on the arthroscopic findings: those with a partial-thickness articular-sided rotator cuff tear and those with pure tendinopathy. The groups were then compared to identify the associated pathology with the rotator cuff lesions. 2×2 contingency table analysis and unpaired Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: One hundred patients were included in the study of whom 62 had a partial articular-sided tear. Those with a partial articular-sided tear were older (P=0.0001), were more commonly associated with a documented injury (P=0.03), and more commonly had biceps degeneration (P=0.001) and synovitis (P=0.02) within the joint. Conclusion: Partial-thickness articular-sided tears are a common occurrence in patients requiring arthroscopic surgery for rotator cuff pathology over the age of 35 years. This probably reflects an injury in an already degenerate cuff. This would support the theory of intrinsic degeneration of the tendon in this age group and probably represent a different etiology to those seen in the young athletes. Level of Evidence: Level 3






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1 Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Upper Limb Unit, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX, United Kingdom
2 Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Upper Limb Unit, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, CV2 2DX; University of Warwick Faculty of Medicine, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom

Correspondence Address:
Chetan S Modi
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX
United Kingdom
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0973-6042.94309

Get Permissions

Purpose: Partial-thickness articular-sided rotator cuff tears have a multifactorial etiology and are associated with degeneration of the tendon. They are often described as an injury of the young athlete, although they are also found in the older population. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and associations of partial-thickness articular-sided tears in patients over the age of 35 years. Design: Retrospective Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of all arthroscopic procedures for rotator cuff pathology in patients over the age of 35 years over a 2-year period by a single surgeon was performed. The included patients were divided into two groups based on the arthroscopic findings: those with a partial-thickness articular-sided rotator cuff tear and those with pure tendinopathy. The groups were then compared to identify the associated pathology with the rotator cuff lesions. 2×2 contingency table analysis and unpaired Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: One hundred patients were included in the study of whom 62 had a partial articular-sided tear. Those with a partial articular-sided tear were older (P=0.0001), were more commonly associated with a documented injury (P=0.03), and more commonly had biceps degeneration (P=0.001) and synovitis (P=0.02) within the joint. Conclusion: Partial-thickness articular-sided tears are a common occurrence in patients requiring arthroscopic surgery for rotator cuff pathology over the age of 35 years. This probably reflects an injury in an already degenerate cuff. This would support the theory of intrinsic degeneration of the tendon in this age group and probably represent a different etiology to those seen in the young athletes. Level of Evidence: Level 3






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