European Journal of Radiology
Volume 51, Issue 3 , Pages 263-268 , September 2004

Rotator cuff tears in asymptomatic individuals: a clinical and ultrasonographic screening study

  • N Schibany

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology/Osteology AKH, Medical School, University of Vienna, Waehringer-Guertel 18-20, Vienna 1090, Austria
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +43-1-40400-7620; fax: +43-1-40400-3777.
  • ,
  • H Zehetgruber

      Affiliations

    • Department of Orthopaedics, Medical School, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • ,
  • F Kainberger

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology/Osteology AKH, Medical School, University of Vienna, Waehringer-Guertel 18-20, Vienna 1090, Austria
  • ,
  • C Wurnig

      Affiliations

    • Department of Orthopaedics, Medical School, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • ,
  • A Ba-Ssalamah

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology/Osteology AKH, Medical School, University of Vienna, Waehringer-Guertel 18-20, Vienna 1090, Austria
  • ,
  • A.M Herneth

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology/Osteology AKH, Medical School, University of Vienna, Waehringer-Guertel 18-20, Vienna 1090, Austria
  • ,
  • T Lang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Statistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • ,
  • D Gruber

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Statistics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  • ,
  • M.J Breitenseher

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology/Osteology AKH, Medical School, University of Vienna, Waehringer-Guertel 18-20, Vienna 1090, Austria

Received 3 April 2003 ,Revised 19 May 2003 ,Accepted 20 May 2003.

References 

  1. Milgrom C, Schaffler M, Gilbert S, van Holsbeeck M. Rotator-cuff changes in asymptomatic adults. The effect of age, hand dominance and gender. J. Bone Joint Surg. 1995;77(2):296–298
  2. Miniaci A, Dowdy PA, Willits KR, Vellet AD. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the rotator cuff tendons in the asymptomatic shoulder. Am. J. Sports Med. 1995;23(2):142–145
  3. Sher JS, Uribe JW, Posada A, Murphy BJ, Zlatkin MB. Abnormal findings on magnetic resonance images of asymptomatic shoulders. J. Bone Joint Surg. Am. 1995;77(1):10–15
  4. Tempelhof S, Rupp S, Seil R. Age-related prevalence of rotator cuff tears in asymptomatic shoulders. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1999;8(4):296–299
  5. Constant CR, Murley AH. A clinical method of functional assessment of the shoulder. Clin. Orthop. 1987;214:160–164
  6. Hedtmann A, Fett H. Ultrasonography of the shoulder in subacromial syndromes with disorders and injuries of the rotator cuff. Orthopäde. 1995;24(6):498–508
  7. Zehetgruber H, Lang T, Wurnig C. Distinction between supraspinatus, infraspinatus and subscapularis tendon tears with ultrasound in 332 surgically confirmed cases. Ultrasound Med. Biol. 2002;28(6):711–717
  8. Zlatkin MB, Fachook FS. Magnetic resonance pathology of the rotator cuff. Top. Magn. Reson. Imaging. 1994;6(2):94–120
  9. Bigliani L, Morrison DS, April EW. The morphology of the acromion and its relationship to rotator cuff tears. Orthop. Trans. 1986;10:228
  10. Brenneke SL, Morgan CJ. Evaluation of ultrasonography as a diagnostic technique in the assessment of rotator cuff tendon tears. Am. J. Sports Med. 1992;20:287–289
  11. Furtschegger A, Resh H. Value of ultrasonography in preoperative diagnosis of rotator cuff tears and postoperative follow-up. Eur. J. Radiol. 1988;8(2):69–75
  12. Mack LA, Gannon MK, Kilcoyne RF, Matsen RA. Sonographic evaluation of the rotator cuff: accuracy in patients without prior surgery. Clin. Orthop. 1988;234:21–27
  13. Mack LA, Nyberg DA, Matsen FA. Sonographic evaluation of the rotator cuff. Radiol. Clin. North Am. 1988;26(1):161–177
  14. Middleton WD, Reinus WR, Totty WG, Melson CL, Murphy WA. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the rotator cuff and the biceps tendon. J. Bone Joint Surg. 1986;68(3):440–450
  15. Farin P, Jaroma H. Sonographic depiction of tears of the anterior portion of the rotator cuff (subscapularis tendon tears). J. Ultrasound Med. 1996;15(3):221–225
  16. Neer CS 2nd. In: Reines L, editor. Shoulder reconstruction. New York: WB Saunders Company, 1990. p. 35.
  17. Codman EA, Akerson TB. The pathology associated with ruptures of the supraspinatus tendon. Ann. Surg. 1911;93:354–359
  18. Codman EA. Rupture of the supraspinatus. J. Bone Joint Surg. 1937;19:643–652
  19. Lindblom K. On the pathogenesis of ruptures of the tendon aponeurosis of the shoulder joint. Acta Radiol. 1939;20:563–567
  20. Mosely FH, Goldie I. The arterial pattern of the rotator cuff of the shoulder. J. Bone Joint Surg. 1963;45:780–789
  21. Neer CS. Impingement lesions. Clin. Orthop. 1983;173:70–77
  22. Ozaki J, Fujimoto S, Nakagawa Y, Masushara K, Tamai S. Tears of the rotator cuff of the shoulder associated with pathologic changes in the acromion: a study in cadavera. J. Bone Joint Surg. Am. 1988;70(8):1224–1230
  23. Petersson CJ, Gentz CF. Ruptures of the supraspinatus tendon. The significance of distally pointing acromioclavicular osteophytes. Clin. Orthop. 1983;174:143–148
  24. Rathbun JB, Macnab I. The microvascular pattern of the rotator cuff. J. Bone Joint Surg. Br. 1970;52(3):540–553
  25. Rothman HR, Parke W. The vascular anatomy of the rotator cuff. Clin. Orthop. 1965;41:176–186
  26. Uhthoff HK, Sakar K. An algorithm for shoulder pain caused by soft tissue disorders. Clin. Orthop. 1990;254:121–127
  27. Wilson CL. Lesions of the supraspinatus tendon: degeneration, rupture and calcification. Arch. Surg. 1943;46:307–325
  28. Wilson CL, Duff GL. Pathologic study of degeneration and rupture of the supraspinatus tendon. Arch. Surg. 1943;47:121–135
  29. Neer CS. Anterior acromioplasty for the chronic impingement syndrome of the shoulder: a preliminary report. J. Bone Surg. 1972;54(1):41–50
  30. Burkhart SS. Fluoroscopic comparison of kinematic patterns in massive rotator cuff tears. A suspension bridge model. Clin. Orthop. 1992;284:144–152
  31. Yamaguchi K, Sher JS, Andersen WK, Garretson R, Uribe JW, Hechtmann K, et al. Glenohumeral motion in patients with rotator cuff tears: a comparison of asymptomatic and symptomatic shoulders. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2000;9(1):6–11
  32. Yamaguchi K, Tetro AM, Blam O, Evanoff BA, Teefey SA, Middleton WD. Natural history of asymptomatic rotator cuff tears: a longitudinal analysis of asymptomatic tears detected sonographically. J. Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2001;10(3):199–203
  33. Hedtmann A, Fett H. Ultrasound diagnosis of the rotator cuff. Orthopäde. 2002;31(3):236–246

PII: S0720-048X(03)00159-1

doi: 10.1016/S0720-048X(03)00159-1

European Journal of Radiology
Volume 51, Issue 3 , Pages 263-268 , September 2004