DIAGNOSIS OF ROTATOR CUFF TEARS.

Murrell GA, Walton JR. Lancet 2001 Mar 10;357(9258):769-70.

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tears account for almost 50% of major shoulder injuries but are sometimes difficult to diagnose.

DESIGN: To aid diagnosis, we did a prospective study, comparing results of 23 clinical tests from 400 patients with and without rotator cuff tears. Three simple tests were predictive for rotator cuff tear: supraspinatus weakness, weakness in external rotation, and impingement.

CONCLUSION: When all three were positive, or if two tests were positive and the patient was aged 60 or older, the individual had a 98% chance of having a rotator cuff tear; combined absence of these features excluded this diagnosis.