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Updated: Nov 21, 2025
Arthroscopic Management of Massive Irreparable Rotator Cuff Tears: Whole Rotator Cable Reconstruction Using Proximal Biceps Tendon Autograft
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Factors Associated With Symptomatic Rotator Cuff Tears: The Rotator Cuff Outcomes Workgroup Cohort Study
Alan Z Grusky1, Amos Song, Peter Kim
1From the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee (AZG); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (AS, NBJ); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee (PK); Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee (GDA, JEK, NBJ); Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee (GDA); King Edward Memorial Hospital, Hamilton, Bermuda (LDH); Orthopedic Institute of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, South Dakota (KMB); Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (EM); and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Orthopaedics, and Population and Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas (NBJ).
Objective:
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.
Design:
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.
Results:
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.
Conclusions:
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.
To Claim Cme Credits:
Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME.
Cme Objectives:
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.
Level:
Advanced.
Accreditation:
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.
