In a recent study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, researchers examined 50 patients with initially asymptomatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears over the course of three years.
Of the 50 patients, 18 developed symptoms during follow-up examinations.
The study found:
• The newly symptomatic group had a mean tear size of 10.6 mm.
• The still-asymptomatic group had a mean tear size of 3.3 mm.
• The rate of progression to advanced muscle atrophy was 35 percent in the newly symptomatic group and 12 percent in the group of still-asymptomatic patients
• The rate of fatty degeneration was 35 percent in the newly symptomatic group and 4 percent in the group of still-asymptomatic patients.
• The rate of pathology of the long head of the biceps tendon was 33 percent in the newly symptomatic group and 6 percent in the group of still-asymptomatic patients.
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