Ultrasound to Predict the Prognosis of Rotator Cuff Tears

Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography to Predict the Treatment Effect and Risk of Re-tear in Patients With Large-to-massive Rotator Cuff Tears

To predict the prognosis of large-to-massive RCTs and risk of re-tear by ultrasound elastography.

Most symptomatic large-to-massiverotator cuff tears (RCTs) should be operated, but the prognosis and postoperative risk of re-tear depended on the quality of rotator cuff muscles. Preoperative evaluations were usually done by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI was used in recent studies to predict the surgical outcome of large-to-massive RCTs and postoperative re-tear, but the clinical availability was not as good as ultrasound. The investigators hypothesize that ultrasound elastography can predict the prognosis of large-to-massive RCTs and risk of re-tear.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who are diagnosed with rotator cuff tear by an orthopedist.
2. The large-to-massive rotator cuff tears need to be confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound. The definitions of this diagnosis include a tear over 3 cm or any full-thickness of tears in more than two rotator cuff muscles.
3. Being willing to cooperated with the arranged examinations before the operation.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who are only diagnosed with partial-thickness rotator cuff muscle tears or small- to large- sized full-thickness tears.
2. Patients who have acromioclavicular arthritis that needs distal clavicle resection.
3. Patients who had serious glenohumeral arthritis, pseudoparalysis, or any other shoulder trauma history.