Stage III rotator cuff syndrome. This is a complete tear of the supraspinatus tendon and usually occurs after 40 years of age. The patient may relate feeling a sudden pop in the shoulder and then suffering severe pain. The patient notes increasing weakness when trying to abduct and externally rotate his or her arm. The diagnosis is confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging or a shoulder arthrogram.
Treatment is usually surgical repair depending on whether there is significant loss of function.
More likely to repair in young patients than in the elderly, for example. Many elderly patients have progressive rotator cuff loss over years as a result of the aging process. This chronically stiff and painful shoulder begins without any significant injury. The cause is prolonged immobilization from either protracted use of a sling or disuse because of pain in the arm. Shoulder motion is limited in one or more directions, with pain occurrring at the limits of motion.