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.