FALL-RELATED ROTATOR CUFF TEARS

Abstract

Tears of the rotator cuff tendons may occur as a result of tendon degeneration or from a single traumatic event but commonly a combination of these factors are in play. Rotator cuff tendon degeneration and accidental falls are both known to increase in incidence with increasing age. No study to date has sought to investigate the characteristic of accidental falls as a significant cause of injury in the rotator cuff tear population. We developed a 25 multi-step item questionnaire to investigate the source of injury in sixty rotator cuff tear patients. The majority, 32/60 (53.3%), reported a fall associated with their rotator cuff tear. The tears nearly always occurred on the same side as the fall. Most falls resulting in cuff tears were to the side and front rather than backwards. Our findings highlight that falls are the leading cause of injury in the rotator cuff tear patient population and describe characteristics of the previously under-recognized fall-related rotator cuff tear population.