Highlights & Basics
- Rotator cuff injury is a common cause of shoulder pain, especially in older and active people. Tears can be symptomatic or asymptomatic.
- The cause of a rotator cuff tear can be traumatic or attritional.
- Treatment is typically based on degree of dysfunction, pain, quality of tendons and muscles of the rotator cuff, location of the tear, and patient goals and activity level.
- In patients with lower functional demands, rehabilitation therapy, including range of motion and cuff and scapular strengthening exercises, is critical to return patients to better function. A subacromial injection can alleviate pain but should not be performed repeatedly.
- If higher activity level is desired or the tear is acute in a younger, active patient, surgical intervention has a better functional result than nonoperative treatment.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
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Citations
Expert Panel on Musculoskeletal Imaging; Amini B, Beckmann NM, Beamanet FD, al. ACR appropriateness criteria: shoulder pain - traumatic. J Am Coll Radiol. 2018 May;15(5s):S171-88.[Abstract][Full Text]
Expert Panel on Musculoskeletal Imaging; Small KM, Adler RS, Shah SH, et al. ACR appropriateness criteria: shoulder pain - atraumatic. J Am Coll Radiol. 2018 Nov;15(11s):S388-402.[Abstract][Full Text]
Weber S, Chahal J. Management of rotator cuff injuries. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2020 Mar 1;28(5):e193-201.[Abstract][Full Text]
Beaudreuil J, Dhénain M, Coudane H, Mlika-Cabanne N. Clinical practice guidelines for the surgical management of rotator cuff tears in adults. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2010 Apr;96(2):175-9.[Abstract]
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