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Concomitant rotator cuff tears occur with traumatic brachial plexus injury
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Approximately one in 10 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury experience concomitant rotator cuff tears, which may contribute to shoulder dysfunction, according to study results.
In a retrospective review of 280 patients with traumatic brachial plexus injury treated during a 12-year period, researchers acquired upper-extremity MRI scans for all patients as part of the initial evaluation for posttraumatic brachial plexus injury. The researchers also reviewed radiographic and clinical data to document partial- or full-thickness rotator cuff tears, mechanism and location of the brachial plexus injury, and age.
Study results showed 23 patients had a full-thickness rotator cuff tear, with 21 tears involving the supraspinatus, eight involving the infraspinatus and seven involving the subscapularis.
Among the 23 patients with full-thickness tears, one had tears in three tendons, eight had tears involving two tendons, 12 had tears in a single tendon, and one had a single-tendon tear in one shoulder and a double-tendon tear in the other shoulder.
Overall, 13 patients underwent surgical repair of the rotator cuff.
The researchers found older age and patients with infraclavicular brachial plexus injury had a significantly higher rate of full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
Disclosure: See the study for a full list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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