A rotator cuff tear is classified into a full thickness tear and a partial thickness tear. Various visual analog scales (VAS) of the shoulder joint in cases of rotator cuff tear were evaluated preoperatively. These scales included evaluations at night, at the time of exercise and at the time of rest. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of each VAS evaluation into 3 types of rotator cuff tears. Since January 1999, 123 patients of rotator cuff tears were operated on in our institute, and 86 of them were evaluated preoperatively about their VAS. Their mean age was 61.8 years and the mean affected period was 20.2 months. There were 52 males, and 34 females. Each case was classified into the articular side tear group (group A), the bursal side tear group (group B) and the complete tear group (group C). The VAS evaluations of each group were statistically evaluated (The Tukey-Kramer method). There was not significant difference between the age and affection period of each group and there was significant difference about various VAS evaluations.
