This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Study: Proximal humerus fracture-associated rotator cuff tears common in older patients
Concomitant rotator cuff tears in association with proximal humerus fractures were found to be relatively common and associated with older patients as well as those with a fracture-dislocation, according to study results.
Researchers retrospectively reviewed data from 345 patients who underwent surgery for 349 proximal humerus fractures from January 2007 to June 2012. The researchers recorded patient demographics, the presence and management of rotator cuff tears, and surgical factors. To determine which factors were associated with rotator cuff tears, the researchers performed a regression analysis.
Results showed 8.6% of patients had concomitant rotator cuff tears. Compared with patients who did not have a rotator cuff tear, the researchers found patients with rotator cuff tears were older, more likely to have had a dislocation and were more likely to have undergone subsequent arthroscopic repair or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
At the time of surgery, 22 of 30 patients were treated with suture repair, whereas five patients underwent reverse total shoulder arthroplasty based on the intraoperative finding of a significant rotator cuff tear, according to the researchers.
Disclosures: Getz is a paid consultant for Zimmer and received institutional support from Zimmer and Integra LifeSciences. Abboud is a paid consultant for Arthrex; received institutional support from OREF, Zimmer, DePuy and Integra LifeSciences; is a paid speaker for and received royalties from Integra LifeSciences; and owns stock or stock option in Mininvasive.