Full-thickness Rotator Cuff Tears Clinical Trial
Official title:
Anatomic and Clinical Long-term Follow-up of Conservatively Treated Rotator Cuff Tears
Study population: Patients who have been treated with physiotherapy for a potentially
repairable rotator cuff tear in the period from 2002 to 2005.
Study Method: At the time of diagnosis (2002 to 2005) all study patients were examined
clinically, sonographically and by MRI. Some patients also completed a shoulder score. All
study patients will now be reexamined, 8 to 10 years after they were diagnosed. Reexamination
includes history taking, clinical examination, completion of three shoulder scores (two
shoulder specific scores, one general health score), Sonography and MRI. Findings of interest
are
- the number of relapses during follow-up,
- the need for surgical treatment during follow-up,
- the deterioration of tear anatomy (tear size, muscle atrophy, fatty degeneration) during
follow-up
- the actual clinical shoulder condition (as given by shoulder scores) at reexamination.
Study purpose: We want to assess the anatomic and clinical long-term results of physiotherapy
for potentially repairable rotator cuff tears. We want to find out if tear anatomy of
unrepaired rotator cuff tears deteriorates over time and if such a deterioration is
associated with a development of more serious degrees of symptoms.
n/a