Extract
Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears can be caused by trauma or
anatomic impingement, or they can be a natural consequence of aging. They may
involve either the articular surface, the bursal surface, or both sides of the
rotator cuff. They can be asymptomatic or a potential source of shoulder
dysfunction. Recent studies have seemed to indicate that partial-thickness
cuff tears can progress and do not heal on their
own1. The articular
side of the rotator cuff is hypovascular
(Fig. 1), and the collagen
bundles on the articular side are thinner and less uniform
(Fig. 2), making
articular-sided partial-thickness rotator cuff tears two to three times more
common than bursal-sided
tears2-8.