Surgical Treatment of the Torn Rotator Cuff Associated with Fractures or Dislocations around the Shoulder Girdle Region.

Abstract

Rotator cuff tears associated with fractures or dislocations around the shoulder girdle region are uncommon. Dislocation of the glenohumeral joint and fracture of the tuberosity are thought to be factors associated with rotator cuff tears,while acromial, coracoid, or distal clavicular fractures and acromioclavicular separation are not generally thought to cause rotator pathology.In this paper,we report seven patients with rotator cuff tears who had dislocation of the glenohumeral joint (three cases) ,acromial fracture (one case), acromiclavicular separation (one case) distal clavicular fracture (one case) and greater tuberosity fracture (one case). These seven patients continued to complain of pain during active shoulder movement after injury and achieved little pain relief by conservative treatment. For this reason,we performed shoulder arthrography and found abnomal leakage of contrast material into the subacromial bursa. Surgical repair was carried out in seven cases and the postoperative results were excellent. Thus,arthrography is helpful in managing patients with fractures or dislocations of the shoulder.