Evidence from 11 high quality studies (Ackmann, 2021; Anauate Nicolao, 2022; Bullock 2018; Ercan, 2021, Fieseler, 2022a; Franca, 2022; Saragaglia, 2021; Sgroi, 2018; Sgroi, 2019; Yazigi Junior, 2021; Villafane, 2015) indicate that the following tests are useful to diagnosis a full-thickness rotator cuff tear: Bear Hug Test, Belly Press Test, Empty Can Test, External Rotator Lag Sign, External Rotation Resistance Test, Full Can Test, Hawkins Test, Hug Up Test, Internal Rotation Lag Sign (IRLS) Test, Internal Rotation Resistance Test (IRRT) Test, Internal Rotation Resistance Test At Maximal 90 Degrees Of Abduction And Maximal External Rotation (IRRTM) Test, Jobe Test, Lateral Jobe Test, Lift Off Test, Neer Test, Patte Test, And Yocum Test. Generally, these tests are better at ruling in than ruling out full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
Risks and Harms of Implementing this Recommendation
There is no known harm to patients by implementing this recommendation, but there could potentially be a slightly higher reoperation rate on patients who did not undergo the concomitant procedures.
Future Research
Future research could be performed to elucidate risk factors for reoperation rates in certain groups who did not undergo concomitant procedures.
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- Anauate Nicolao, F., Yazigi Junior, J. A., Matsunaga, F. T., Archetti Netto, N., Belloti, J. C., Tamaoki, M. J. S. Comparing shoulder maneuvers to magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic findings in patients with supraspinatus tears. World Journal of Orthopedics 2022; 1: 102-111
- Bullock, R., Shah, S., Dundas, T., Mansingh, A., Frankson, M., Soares, D. Accuracy of magnetic resonance arthrography in detecting rotator cuff tears. West Indian Medical Journal 2018; 2: 143-147
- Ercan, N., Arican, G., Taskent, H. C., Ozmeric, A., Alemdaroglu, K. B. Combined clinical test and magnetic resonance imaging have similar diagnostic values in the diagnosis of subscapularis tear. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy 2021; 8: 2616-2623
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