Rotator cuff tears with cervical radiculopathy.

Shoulder pain is commonly attributed to rotator cuff tears, with an estimated 4.5 million US physician visits in 2002 for cuff problems. Although the tear may be treated conservatively at times, surgical repair is also a treatment option. The timing of such surgery and a reasonable estimation of the chances of success of such surgery are important considerations for the surgeon and patient. Shoulder pain can also be produced by an extrinsic cause such as cervical radiculopathy. Such a source of pain can coexist with a rotator cuff tear and have some influence on the treatment process for the cuff tear. The purpose of this review is to examine the overlap of these 2 problems and their interactions.