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Researchers predicted subscapularis tears on physical examinations
Researchers could confirm when patients had subscapularis tendon tears when they performed physical examinations compared to when they performed arthroscopy to confirm the presence of tendon a tear, according to a study published in Orthopedics.
“The belly press, lift-off and bear hug tests can reliably predict subscapularis tendon tears,” the authors wrote in the study. “Consistent implementation of these three components of the physical examination can potentially lead to fewer undetected subscapularis tears, resulting in fewer failed rotator cuff repairs and improved overall postoperative outcomes.”
The researchers retrospectively studied 52 patients who underwent at least one to three screening tests for subscapularis pathology (belly press, bear hug and lift-off tests), who had findings of a subscapularis tendon tear after arthroscopy or who underwent arthroscopic repair of the tears. The patients underwent the arthroscopic repairs between September 2008 and April 2012.
The researchers found the physical examinations for subscapularis tendon tears had a sensitivity of 81%. In 10 patients the examination results were negative. There was an average of 16 days between when the physical examination and the arthroscopic confirmation of the subscapularis tendon tear occurred. Two patients had shoulder stiffness and underwent physical therapy, but the investigators found no reruptures, infections, neurovascular compromise, hardware failure or complex regional pain syndrome.
Disclosures: The authors have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. The authors received a grant from the Iowa Orthopaedic Research Foundation.