BACKGROUND Rotator cuff tears are very common and their incidence increases with age. Shoulder ultrasonography has recently gained popularity in detecting rotator cuff tears because of its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, time-saving, and real-time nature of the procedure. Well-trained orthopedic surgeons may utilize shoulder ultrasonography to diagnose rotator cuff tears. The wait time of patie...

MR imaging is the optimal method for evaluating suspected rotator cuff pathology. Current techniques of fast spin-echo imaging without and with fat suppression allow accurate identification and characterization of tendinous and myotendinous abnormalities of the rotator cuff. Impingement disorders, tendon degeneration, instability,and trauma comprise the multifactorial nature of rotator cuff dis...

Rotator cuff tears are common and are a frequent source of shoulder pain and disability. A wide variation in the prevalence of rotator cuff tears has been reported. The etiology of rotator cuff tear remains multifactorial and attempts to unify intrinsic and extrinsic theories tried to explain the etiopathogenesis of rotator cuff tears. Knowledge of the etiopathogenesis of rotator cuff tears is ...

Few previous studies have investigated the pathomechanism and managements of rotator cuff lesions with shoulder stiffness. Based on observations by Codman in 1934, frozen shoulder presumably relates to rotator cuff tendenitis. In the past six decades, tended to discriminate primary frozen shoulder from secondary shoulder stiffness due to shoulder disorders such as rotator cuff lesions or trauma...

Background: The symptoms of rotator cuff tear vary and may even be absent. Thus, the symptoms cannot be explained solely by the presence of rotator cuff tear, and other factors are thought to be involved. Because the rotator cuff comes in contact with the coracoacromial ligament, the elasticity of the ligament may be a factor of the symptoms. The purpose of this study was to clarify the elastic...

Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) represents a spectrum of pathology ranging from subacromial bursitis to rotator cuff tendinopathy and full-thickness rotator cuff tears. The relationship between subacromial impingement and rotator cuff disease in the etiology of rotator cuff injury is a matter of debate. Both extrinsic compression and intrinsic degeneration may play a role. Management inc...

Understanding the anatomy of the rotator cuff and the surrounding structures that influence its function is essential to treating rotator cuff disease. During the past decade, advances in basic science and surgical technology have improved our knowledge of this anatomy. This review article presents the current concepts on rotator cuff anatomy and how they should be used in the surgical manageme...

Rotator cuff tear size has an important effect on clinical outcomes after repair. Management options for massive rotator cuff tears are numerous, and selection of the most appropriate treatment method for individual patients can be a challenge. An understanding of the pathomechanics, treatment, and clinical outcomes in patients with massive rotator cuff tears can serve as a guide for clinical d...

Rotator cuff tears are a ubiquitous cause of shoulder pain and disability. Full thickness rotator cuff tears are present in 19-21% of the general population, and their prevalence increases with age. The incidence of this problem is exacerbated by the ever advancing age of our patient population. Thankfully, with advances in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, this has become a treatable problem w...

The rotator cuff provides dynamic stability and is critical to normal shoulder function. Forces generated by the rotator cuff facilitate the motions involved in activities of daily living and the more demanding movements of athletics and manual labor. Injury and pathology of the rotator cuff are common and the unique anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of the cuff contribute to the eti...