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Rotator cuff tears in young patients: a different disease than rotator cuff tears in elderly patients.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lazarides, AL; Alentorn-Geli, E; Choi, JHJ; Stuart, JJ; Lo, IKY; Garrigues, GE; Taylor, DC
Published in: J Shoulder Elbow Surg
November 2015

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the characteristics of injury and treatment outcomes of rotator cuff tears in young patients. METHODS: A systematic electronic search was performed for clinical studies evaluating rotator cuff tears in patients younger than 40 years with special emphasis on reporting of injury characteristics and treatment outcomes with a minimum 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: Twelve studies (involving 336 patients) met inclusion criteria. The mean age of the patients was 28 years (range, 16-40 years), with a mean follow-up of 39 months. There were 2 distinct subgroups. The majority of studies (7 of 10) showed that patients typically had a full-thickness tear with an acute traumatic etiology. However, within the subgroup of elite throwers, 5 of 6 studies demonstrated a majority of tears that were partial thickness stemming from chronic overuse. Rotator cuff repair improved pain and strength in almost all studies reporting on these parameters. Eighty-seven percent of patients reported they were satisfied. However, all studies examining elite throwers showed significant difficulty in returning to play (25%-97%). CONCLUSIONS: In young patients with rotator cuff tears, there are 2 primary groups. (1) A majority group with rotator cuff tears of traumatic origin responded well to both arthroscopic and open rotator cuff repair in terms of pain relief and self-reported outcomes postoperatively. These patients reported high levels of satisfaction and return to preinjury level of play. (2) A unique subpopulation composed of elite throwers had improved outcomes but suboptimal return to play.

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Published In

J Shoulder Elbow Surg

DOI

EISSN

1532-6500

Publication Date

November 2015

Volume

24

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1834 / 1843

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rotator Cuff Injuries
  • Rotator Cuff
  • Return to Work
  • Return to Sport
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Orthopedics
  • Humans
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorders
  • Arthroscopy
  • Age Factors
 

Citation

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Lazarides, A. L., Alentorn-Geli, E., Choi, J. H. J., Stuart, J. J., Lo, I. K. Y., Garrigues, G. E., & Taylor, D. C. (2015). Rotator cuff tears in young patients: a different disease than rotator cuff tears in elderly patients. J Shoulder Elbow Surg, 24(11), 1834–1843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2015.05.031
Lazarides, Alexander L., Eduard Alentorn-Geli, JH James Choi, Joseph J. Stuart, Ian K. Y. Lo, Grant E. Garrigues, and Dean C. Taylor. “Rotator cuff tears in young patients: a different disease than rotator cuff tears in elderly patients.J Shoulder Elbow Surg 24, no. 11 (November 2015): 1834–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2015.05.031.
Lazarides AL, Alentorn-Geli E, Choi JHJ, Stuart JJ, Lo IKY, Garrigues GE, et al. Rotator cuff tears in young patients: a different disease than rotator cuff tears in elderly patients. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015 Nov;24(11):1834–43.
Lazarides, Alexander L., et al. “Rotator cuff tears in young patients: a different disease than rotator cuff tears in elderly patients.J Shoulder Elbow Surg, vol. 24, no. 11, Nov. 2015, pp. 1834–43. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jse.2015.05.031.
Lazarides AL, Alentorn-Geli E, Choi JHJ, Stuart JJ, Lo IKY, Garrigues GE, Taylor DC. Rotator cuff tears in young patients: a different disease than rotator cuff tears in elderly patients. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015 Nov;24(11):1834–1843.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Shoulder Elbow Surg

DOI

EISSN

1532-6500

Publication Date

November 2015

Volume

24

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1834 / 1843

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rotator Cuff Injuries
  • Rotator Cuff
  • Return to Work
  • Return to Sport
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Orthopedics
  • Humans
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorders
  • Arthroscopy
  • Age Factors