抄録
(Purpose)
The degeneration of the rotator cuff increases with aging. Reports of rotator cuff tears of both sides are, however, limited in number. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the abnormal findings of asymptomatic contralateral shoulders on MRI in patients with rotator cuff tears.
(Materials and methods)
MRIs of 108 asymptomatic shoulders were evaluated to determine the prevalence of findings consistent with tears. The findings were analyzed regard to age, the episode of traumas, the tear types of the affected side and the occupations. The patients consisted of 65 males and 43 females with an average age of 58 years(32 to 87). A 1.5T MRI was utilized to obtain an oblique coronal plane imaging.
(Result)
Forty-two cases(39% )had tears in the supraspinatus tendons of the asymptomatic side. The incidence of cuff tears was 15% in patients under 60 years and 66% in those over 60. Tears were seen in 11% of forty-six cases who had traumatic episodes, and 60% of sixty-two cases who had no traumas in the affected side. In relation to the tear types of the affected side, the incidence of tears were as follows: 32%full-thickness tears,20% bursal side tears,14% intratendinous tears and 0% articular side tears in patients under 60 years. They were 73%,50%,33% and 63% respectively in patients over 60. Sedentary workers had a higher rate of tears than manual laborers.
(Conclusions)
When a patient over 60 years has a full-thickness tear on one side withont any traumatic episode, the existence of an asymptomatic tear in the contralateral shoulder should be considered.
