Learn about rotator cuff tear

Rotator cuff tears are a very common source of shoulder pain and decreased motion that can occur due to both traumatic injuries in young patients as well as degenerative disease in the elderly patient.

Types of rotator cuff tears

1) Chronic degenerative tear seen in elderly age groups due to loss of muscle strength 

2) Chronic impingement tear seen due to irritation of rotator cuff by superior structures ( complication of shoulder impingement syndrome )

3) Acute avulsion tears - seen in younger population involves a muscle of rotator cuff named subscapularis. Tear of complete rotator cuff can be seen after shoulder dislocation in both elderly and younger population but more common in elderly

Diagnosis can be suspected clinically with provocative tests of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis, but confirmation requires an MRI of the shoulder