Full-thickness rotator cuff tear prevalence and correlation with function and co-morbidities in patients sixty-five years and older

• Published in: Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 881 - 885
• Main Authors: Fehringer, Edward V., MD, Sun, Junfeng, PhD, VanOeveren, Lucas S., MD, Keller, Brenda K., MD, Matsen, Frederick A., MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.11.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Comorbidity; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Health Status; Humans; Juxtaarticular diseases. Extraarticular rhumatism; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Orthopedics; Prevalence; Rotator Cuff Injuries; Rupture; Shoulder Joint - physiopathology; Juxtaarticular disease; Human; Prognosis; Prevalence; Rotator cuff rupture; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Rheumatology; Epidemiology; Morbidity
• ISSN: 1058-2746; 1532-6500
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2008.05.039

The purpose of this study was to determine full-thickness rotator cuff tear prevalence in patients 65 and older and to correlate tears with comfort, function, and co-morbidities. Two-hundred shoulders without prior surgery were evaluated with a Simple Shoulder Test, a Constant Score, and ultrasound. Full thickness tear prevalence was 22%. Adjusting for age and gender, those with tears had lower scores than those without ( P < .001 for each). Adjusting for many potential confounders, with a 10-year age increase, the odds of a tear increased 2.69-fold ( P = .005). For those with tears, scores were no different for those who had seen a physician for their shoulder compared to those who had not. Full-thickness cuff tear prevalence was 22% in those 65 and older. Tear prevalence increased with increasing age. Shoulder scores were poorer for those with tears.