Abstract
Rupture of the rotator cuff is much more frequent than was previously suspected. Originally this was considered to occur in men who sustained violent trauma. At many autopsies, Codman, Grant, Takagishi and Yamada etc., recognized degenerative change of rotator cuff in considerable many number of men above 40 years old.
In our clinic, we have experienced 9 cases of rupture of the rotator cuff during past three years. There were 4 men and 5 women between 23 years old and 79 years old, 49 years old on an average. 4 cases of them were the disease in left shoulder and 5 were in right. In most cases, they had the anamneses of trauma. Diagnosis was made by clinical symptoms, radioscopy and arthrography. Conservative treatment was generally performed. Shoulder joint was hold by plaster spicas placing the arm in abduction for a period of 4-6 weeks. After that, rehabilitation was done. McLauglin tendon suture was performed upon the 3 cases which were diagnosed complete tears with large of rotator cuff or which hadn't shown any effect by conservative treatment. Excision of acromion and lig. coracoacromial were performed at the same time. After treatment, all of 9 cases offered good movement of the shoulder joints.
