Synonyms
- Rotator cuff lesion
- Torn rotator cuff
- Tear of the supraspinatus tendon
- Periathropathia humeroscapularis pseudoparetica (PHS)
- Torn tendon
- Torn tendon
Definition
A rotator cuff rupture is a rupture of attachment structures of the so-called rotator cuff. This describes a muscle tendon hood that is formed by several muscles of the shoulder girdle or upper arm. These muscles of the rotator cuff have the task of fixing the position of the humeral head in the socket.
Belonging to it: In principle, a rotator cuff rupture can result from injury to two different structures. On the one hand, the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle can tear in a rotator cuff rupture, and on the other hand, a bony projection of the humerus (Latin: humerus) can tear off together with the tendons anchored there. These bony protrusions include the tubercle minus (lat.
“small hump”) as the attachment point of the subscapular muscle and the tubercle majus (lat. “large hump”) as the anchorage point of the remaining muscles of the rotator cuff. In almost all cases of rotator cuff tears, the supraspinatus tendon is affected.
- The musculus supraspinatus (“upper bone muscle“, “supra” = lat. above)
- The Musculus infraspinatus (“underbone muscle”, “infra” = lat. below)
- The muscle teres minor (“smaller round muscle”, “teres” = lat.
round, “minor” = lat. smaller) and
- The Musculus subscapularis (“under-shoulder leaf muscle”, “sub” = lat. under)
EpidemiologyPopulation incidence
Rotator cuff ruptures occur frequently, with the probability of disease increasing with age due to degenerative changes (wear and tear) in muscles and tendons. The most common cause of a rotator cuff rupture is of degenerative nature; in older people, the incidence in autopsies is about 30%.
- Rotator cuff tear
- Humeral head
- Supraspinatus – muscle (Musculus supraspinatus)
Cause of a rotator cuff rupture
Theoretically, there are two possible causes for a rotator cuff rupture. On the one hand, a rupture can be caused by trauma (accident), e.g. a dislocation of the shoulder joint (shoulder luxation) or violent passive movement of the arm. As a result of the shoulder dislocation, the rotator cuff is violently overstretched and the tendon, especially the supraspinatus tendon, tears.
A tear after a shoulder dislocation increases with age, as the elasticity of the rotator cuff decreases. On the other hand, a rotator cuff rupture can have a degenerative cause. The cause is much more common than that caused by an accident.
This is understood to mean an increasing fragility of the structures with age due to changes in the substance, which make a rotator cuff rupture possible even in the case of minor accidents (minor traumas) that do not normally lead to injury. This cause should be considered from an age of about 50 years. The typical accident event for a rotator cuff rupture is a fall on the stretched arm.
