Examination of Unstable Shoulder with Rotator Cuff Tear

• Published in: Orthopedics & Traumatology Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 1144 - 1146
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Hirofumi, Miyazaki, Masaki, Ashihara, Ai, Morisawa, Keizou, Hotokebuchi, Takao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: West-Japanese Society of Orthopedics & Traumatology 25.09.2000
• Subjects: recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder; rotator cuff tear; the aged patient
• ISSN: 0037-1033; 1349-4333
• DOI: 10.5035/nishiseisai.49.1144

We present 3 cases of recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder with rotator cuff tear in the aged. All cases were of females and their age range was from 56 to 76 years. One case had traumatic history but two cases did not. Two cases had repeated anterior dislocations of the shoulder, and one case had repeated dead arm. MRI did not show typical findings of the recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder as in Bankart lesions. All cases however had rotator cuff tear (supraspinatus). In arthroscopy, all cases had massive rotator cuff tear along the fiber direction. All rotator cuffs were sutured and no cases showed repeated dislocation of the shoulder after operation. Rotator cuff tear often causes unstable shoulder in the aged. Repair of the rotator cuff tear is therefere more effective than common treatments for recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder.