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J Am Acad Orthop Surg, Vol 14, No 13, December 2006, 715-725.
© 2006 the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
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Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears

Andrew B. Wolff, MD, Paul Sethi, MD, Karen M. Sutton, MD, Aaron S. Covey, MD, David P. Magit, MD and Michael Medvecky, MD

Dr. Wolff is Resident, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Dr. Sethi is Orthopaedic Surgeon, The Greenwich Sports and Shoulder Service, Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Specialists, Greenwich, CT. Dr. Sutton is Resident, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Covey is Resident, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Magit is Fellow, Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Medvecky is Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine.

None of the following authors or the departments with which they are affiliated has received anything of value from or owns stock in a commercial company or institution related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article: Dr. Wolff, Dr. Sethi, Dr. Sutton, Dr. Covey, Dr. Magit, and Dr. Medvecky.

Reprint requests: Dr. Wolff, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Physicians Building, First Floor, 800 Howard Avenue, New Haven CT 06520.

Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears are not a single entity; rather, they represent a spectrum of disease states. Although often asymptomatic, they can be significantly disabling. Overhead throwing athletes with partial-thickness rotator cuff tears differ with respect to etiology, goals, and treatment from older, nonathlete patients with degenerative tears. Pathogenesis of degenerative partial-thickness tears is multifactorial, with evidence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors playing key roles. Diagnosis of partial-thickness rotator cuff tears should be based on the patient’s symptoms together with magnetic resonance imaging studies. Conservative treatment is successful in most patients. Surgery generally is considered for patients with symptoms of sufficient duration and intensity. The role of acromioplasty has not been clearly delineated, but it should be considered when there is evidence of extrinsic causation for the partial-thickness rotator cuff tear.




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 J Bone Joint Surg BrHome page
J. L. Rees
The pathogenesis and surgical treatment of tears of the rotator cuff
J Bone Joint Surg Br, July 1, 2008; 90-B(7): 827 - 832.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Copyright © 2006 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.