The limited diagnostic value of "feeling a pop" for identifying acute tendon rupture in workers' compensation shoulder claims.

Regarding “Rotator Cuff Tears Are Significantly More Frequent in Recurrent Shoulder Instability Patients With Initial Dislocation at Age 40 or Older”

Introduction: Shoulder joint is a highly mobile joint but is prone for rotator cuff injuries and dislocations. It is necessary to accurately diagnose rotator cuff and labral injuries so that appropriate plan of action for treatment can be taken. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be used to diagnose and describe the extent of rotator cuff tendon and labral injuries and any secondary rotator cuff muscle abnormalities. Aim: To study the demographic profile of patients presenting with shoulder pain and instability, identify the various rotator cuff injuries causing shoulder pain, identify the rotator cuff interval lesions causing microinstability, identify the various labral and bony pathologies in instability, describe the MRI features of the rotator cuff, rotator cuff interval, labral and bony injuries. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study of patients with symptoms of either shoulder pain or instability who underwent MRI evaluation of the shoulder in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, from July 2018 to December 2020. The study population consisted of 54 patients with either shoulder pain or instability who underwent MRI of shoulder. All the MRI scans of the shoulder in this study were performed using 1.5 Tesla Siemens Magnetom Avanto (Tim 76x18) MR machine using a flex coil. Results: The study population consisted of 54 patients comprising of 38 males and 16 females. The age of the patients ranged from 20-77 years. Majority of the patients were older than 50 years constituting about 33.33% of the total study population. Rotator cuff injury was the commonest cause of pain. Tendinosis was the commonest type of rotator cuff injury followed by partial-thickness and full-thickness tendon tears. The commonest grade of tendinosis was mild or grade 1. Supraspinatus tendon was the most commonly affected tendon followed by subscapularis and infraspinatus tendons. Teres minor tendon was normal in all the cases. Anterior instability was the commonest type of instability with equal prevalence of soft tissue Bankart, bony Bankart and Perthes lesions. Biceps pulley lesions resulted in long head of biceps tendon instability, microinstability and internal impingement. Conclusion: Rotator cuff injuries are the commonest cause of shoulder pain and are seen more frequently after the fifth decade. Shoulder instability is most commonly seen in young male adults. Tendinosis is the commonest type of rotator cuff injury. Supraspinatus tendon is the most commonly injured tendon. Anterior instability is the commonest type of shoulder instability. Biceps pulley lesions result in long head of biceps tendon instability, microinstability and internal impingement. MRI can diagnose interstitial or intrasubstance tendon tears which are not visualised on arthroscopy. MRI description of tendon and labral tears, tendon retraction and muscle atrophy can guide the orthopaedician during arthroscopy and in treatmentplanning.

We describe the structural abnormalities in the painful shoulder of stroke survivors and their relationships to clinical characteristics. Method- Eighty-nine chronic stroke survivors with poststroke shoulder pain underwent T1- and T2-weighted multiplanar, multisequence MRI of the painful paretic shoulder. All scans were reviewed by one radiologist for the following abnormalities: rotator cuff, biceps and deltoid tears, tendinopathies and atrophy, subacromial bursa fluid, labral ligamentous complex abnormalities, and acromioclavicular capsular hypertrophy. Clinical variables included subject demographics, stroke characteristics, and the Brief Pain Inventory Questions 12. The relationship between MRI findings and clinical characteristics was assessed through logistic regression. Thirty-five percent of subjects exhibited a tear of at least one rotator cuff, biceps or deltoid muscle. Fifty-three percent of subjects exhibited tendinopathy of at least one rotator cuff, bicep or deltoid muscle. The prevalence of rotator cuff tears increased with age. However, rotator cuff tears and rotator cuff and deltoid tendinopathies were not related to severity of poststroke shoulder pain. In approximately 20% of cases, rotator cuff and deltoid muscles exhibited evidence of atrophy. Atrophy was associated with reduced motor strength and reduced severity of shoulder pain. Rotator cuff tears and rotator cuff and deltoid tendinopathies are highly prevalent in poststroke shoulder pain. However, their relationship to shoulder pain is uncertain. Atrophy is less common but is associated with less severe shoulder pain.

Although rotator cuff tear is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, its etiology is poorly understood. We assessed factors associated with the presence of rotator cuff tears in a cohort of patients with shoulder pain. From February 2011 to July 2016, a longitudinal cohort of patients with shoulder pain was recruited. Patients completed a detailed questionnaire in addition to a magnetic resonance imaging scan and a clinical shoulder evaluation. The association of multiple factors associated with rotator cuff tears was assessed using multivariate logistic regression. In our cohort of 266 patients, 61.3% of patients had a rotator cuff tear. Older age (per 1 yr: odds ratio = 1.03, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-1.07), involvement of the dominant shoulder (odds ratio = 2.02, 95% confidence interval = 1.16-3.52), and a higher body mass index (per 1 kg/m2: odds ratio = 1.06, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.12) were independently associated with rotator cuff tears. Sex, depression, smoking status, shoulder use at work, hypertension, and diabetes were not significantly associated with rotator cuff tear. In a cohort of patients with shoulder pain, we identified older age, involvement of the dominant shoulder, and a higher body mass index to be independently associated with rotator cuff tear. The mechanism of how these factors possibly lead to rotator cuff tears needs further research. Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME. Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (1) Identify factors associated with an increased risk of developing rotator cuff tears in adults; (2) Describe the current epidemiological trends of rotator cuff tears in the United States; and (3) Discuss the pathophysiological role of aging in the development of nontraumatic rotator cuff tears. Advanced. The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Risk factors for shoulder osteoarthritis with rotator cuff tear in the elderly general population.

Although varieties of surgical repair techniques and materials have been used to repair rotator cuff defects, re-tearing frequently occurs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of rotator cuff repairs with a decellularized tendon slices (DTSs) graft in a rabbit model. Large defects in the infraspinatus tendons were created bilaterally in 21 rabbits. The graft group underwent reconstruction of the defects with the DTSs grafts, while the defect group did not undergo any treatment. The specimens underwent histological observation, biomechanical testing, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. In addition, 2 rabbits that were not operated on were used for MRI detection as a normal reference. Histological analysis revealed that the graft promoted host cell ingrowth and tissue integration, and a tendon-like structure developed at 12 weeks. The ultimate tensile load had a significant difference between specimens at 4 and 12 weeks in the graft group, but there was no significant difference between the graft group and the defect group. In the graft group, the stiffness at 12 weeks was significantly greater than that at 4 or 8 weeks, and it was also greater than the stiffness in the defect group at 12 weeks. MRI demonstrated that the signal strength of the regenerative tissue from the graft group at 12 weeks was similar to that of normal infraspinatus tendon. The DTSs graft allowed for incorporation of host tendon and improved the biomechanical performance of the regenerative tendon. Therefore, the graft could be a promising bioscaffold to enhance the surgical repair of large rotator cuff defects and consequently improve the clinical outcome of rotator cuff tears.

Nonsurgical Treatment for Rotator Cuff Injury in the Elderly

Correlation of defect size with fatty infiltration on MRIs of rotator cuff tendinopathy

To compare the incidence of rotator cuff (RC) tears on shoulder ultrasounds of patients with RC calcific tendinopathy (CaT) to that of a control group without CaT. In this retrospective case-control study, 50 shoulder ultrasounds of patients with CaT were compared independently by 2 musculoskeletal radiologists to 50 patients from a control group without CaT to catalog the number and type of RC tears. RC tears in the CaT group were further characterized based on location, into tears in the specific tendon(s) containing calcium versus all tendon tears. RC tears were diagnosed in 38% (19/50) of the control group (16 full-thickness) as compared to 22% (11/50) with CaT (6 full-thickness). The fewer full-thickness tears in the CaT group (12%, 6 of 50) compared to that in the control group (32%, 16 of 50) was statistically significant (P = 0.016, odds ratio 0.29). Only 7 of the 11 tears in the CaT group were in a calcium-containing tendon (3 full-thickness). The fewer calcium-containing tendon tears compared to tears in the control group was also statistically significant (P = 0.006, odds ratio 0.27). Furthermore, the fewer full-thickness calcium-containing tendon tears (6%, 3/50) compared to full-thickness tears in the control group (32%, 16/50) were yet more statistically significant (P = 0.001, odds ratio 0.14). In patients with shoulder pain and CaT, we observed a decreased number of RC tears and especially calcium-containing tendon tears, as compared to similar demographic patients with shoulder pain but without CaT. Key Points • Patients with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy have few rotator cuff tears, especially full-thickness tears, compared to a control group without calcific tendinopathy. • The tendons containing the calcium hydroxyapatite deposition were the least likely to have a rotator cuff tear. • Future studies could evaluate if calcium hydroxyapatite deposition provides a protective mechanism against rotator cuff tears. • Musculoskeletal ultrasound is more sensitive than MRI in the evaluation of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy.

The effect of rotator cuff trigger points dry needling on the stability and function of the upper limb in people with shoulder pain: Randomized clinical trial study.

ObjectivePartial-thickness rotator cuff tears have a high prevalence in older people. Treatment for such tears remains controversial. Platelet-rich plasma has recently attracted attention for treating partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, due to its regenerative characteristics. However, the results of application of platelet-rich plasma in non-operative treatments are unclear. The aim of this review is to evaluate the effects on shoulder function improvement and pain relief of platelet-rich plasma injection in partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, at different follow-up times (3–6 weeks, 8–12 weeks, and more than 24 weeks after treatment) compared with placebo or corticosteroids.DesignA systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsSeveral databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane, were searched. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The quality of research was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma was calculated as the difference between baseline measurements and post-injection outcomes. The standardized mean difference was used to compare different outcome scales or questionnaire measurements. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 15.0.ResultsThe analysis included 11 studies, with a total of 641 patients (318 treated with platelet-rich plasma and 323 controls). Compared with placebo, platelet-rich plasma exhibited significantly better effects on shoulder function improvement and pain relief at all 3 follow-up times. Compared with other conservative treatments, platelet-rich plasma exhibited significantly better effects on shoulder function and pain relief at 8–12 weeks and at more than 24 weeks after treatment.ConclusionThis review showed positive effects on shoulder function improvement and pain relief of the use of platelet-rich plasma in treating partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, especially in relatively late stages of follow-up (more than 8 weeks) after treatment.LAY ABSTRACTPartial-thickness rotator cuff tears are common, especially in older people, and can cause shoulder pain and movement limitation. Platelet-rich plasma is a platelet concentrate made from autologous blood, which may have anti-inflammatory and healing effects. This systematic review and meta-analysis collected data from existing studies to determine the specific effects of platelet-rich plasma injection on partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. The results showed that, compared with both no treatment and other conservative treatments, platelet-rich plasma reduced pain and improved shoulder function when used to treat partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Meanwhile, the effects were most significant at 8–12 weeks and at more than 24 weeks after treatment.

To compare risk factors for shoulder pain without and with rotator cuff syndrome (RCS). A total of 3,710 workers of a French region were randomly included in the cross-sectional study between 2002 and 2005. Personal and occupational risk factors were assessed during a physical examination and by a self-administered questionnaire. Multinomial logistic modeling was used for the following outcomes: no shoulder pain and no RCS (reference), shoulder pain without RCS (called "shoulder pain") and RCS, separately for men and women. The prevalence rates of "shoulder pain" for men and women were 28.0% and 31.1%, respectively, and the prevalence rates of RCS were 6.6% and 8.5%, respectively. In men, "shoulder pain" and RCS were associated with age, high-perceived physical exertion, and arm abduction. Automatic work pace and low supervisor support were associated with "shoulder pain," and high psychological demand and low skill discretion with RCS. In women, "shoulder pain" and RCS were associated with age, repetitiveness of tasks, and low supervisor support. High perceived physical exertion and exposure to cold temperatures were associated with "shoulder pain." Age was more strongly associated with RCS than with shoulder pain without RCS for both genders. Biomechanical and psychosocial factors were associated with "shoulder pain" and RCS and differed between genders.

Cervical range of motion in individuals with and without chronic subacromial pain syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

To investigate the effectiveness of surgical and postsurgical interventions for the subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Using terms including randomized controlled trial (RCT), shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff impingement, and interventions, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, PEDro, and CINAHL were searched up to February 2009. Relevant systematic reviews and RCTs in any language that included patients with SIS that was not caused by systemic disease or acute trauma; that evaluated surgical or postsurgical treatment for SIS; that reported outcomes of pain, function, or recovery; and that had a follow-up of ≥ 2 weeks, were selected by 2 independent reviewers and confirmed by consensus. Data on the study population, interventions, outcome measures, and length of follow-up (<3 months, 4 to 6 months, and >6 months) were extracted. Two reviewers assessed the methods of the RCTs that were included in reviews other than Cochrane reviews and in RCTs published more recently, rating RCTs that met 6 of 12 Furlan criteria as high quality. The effectiveness of the intervention was rated as moderate, limited, or no evidence, depending on the consistency and quality of the evidence. The included studies were 11 RCTs from a Cochrane review, an additional 2 RCTs that reported on the effectiveness of surgery for SIS, and 3 further RCTs that reported on postsurgical interventions. The quality of the studies was generally poor (10/11 RCTs in the Cochrane review had a high risk of bias; and 3 of the additional RCTs were rated moderate to low quality). Arthroscopic or open subacromial decompression compared with physiotherapy or exercise was investigated in 3 trials. No evidence for differences between the treatments in pain, function, or time to recovery was found in the short, medium, or long term. Five comparisons of arthroscopic versus open subacromial decompression showed no differences in pain or shoulder function scores at any follow-up assessment. One study found no difference in short- or long-term outcomes between arthroscopic versus open subacromial decompression for the removal of calcium deposits. A comparison of the Neer versus the modified Neer surgical technique found no verifiable difference between them in the short term. In a study comparing the techniques of electrocautery and holmium laser in arthroscopic subacromial decompression, differences favoring electrocautery were found for the short and medium term on one American shoulder rating scale but not on another. A high-quality study found no differences at any follow-up in pain or shoulder function scores when arthroscopic subacromial decompression was compared with radio-frequency-based plasma microtenotomy. A high-quality RCT compared injections of platelet-leukocyte gel given postoperatively with no injection. The additional intervention was effective at 6 weeks in reducing pain and improving shoulder function and range of motion, and in return to activities of daily living, but no differences were found in shoulder stability. Three low-quality studies compared the effectiveness of various postsurgical interventions. Early progressive exercises (range of motion, and strengthening exercises) resulted in greater improvements in range of motion at 3 and 12 months than later dynamic and strengthening exercise. Reductions in pain were similar for both groups. Patients taking ketoprofen (200 mg once daily for 6 weeks) compared with those taking placebo had less pain and better shoulder scale scores, active forward flexion, and active abduction, at 6 weeks but the groups did not differ after 2 years. The use of a pain pump (0.375% ropivacaine) after arthroscopic surgery was not effective in improving shoulder function scores at the 2-year follow-up. Studies of surgical interventions in subacromial impingement syndrome suggested that no technique is convincingly better than another or than conservative interventions. Evidence from the few better quality studies suggested that injections of platelet-leukocyte gel given postoperatively were effective in the short term for lessening pain and improving shoulder function, and that radio-frequency-based plasma microtenotomy was not more effective than arthroscopic subacromial decompression for improving any outcome measure.

The significance of subjective mechanical symptoms in rotator cuff pathology