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Hand & Upper Limb
intermediate
X-Type

Rotator Cuff Tear Classification

Shoulder Pathology

A 58-year-old right-hand dominant man presents with 9 months of progressive right shoulder pain and weakness. He has difficulty raising his arm overhead and significant night pain. Examination reveals weakness of external rotation and positive Jobe and external rotation lag signs. MRI shows a full-thickness supraspinatus tear with 3cm retraction and Goutallier grade 2 fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus muscle. Regarding rotator cuff tears:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

Rotator cuff tears are classified by depth (partial vs full-thickness), size (small less than 1cm, m...

B

The Goutallier classification describes fatty infiltration of rotator cuff muscles on CT/MRI: Grade ...

C

Subscapularis tears are most common; fatty infiltration is fully reversible after repair; Goutallier...

D

Clinical examination includes specific tests: Jobe/empty can (supraspinatus), Hornblower sign (teres...

E

Treatment decisions consider tear size, chronicity, patient age and demands, muscle quality (fatty i...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option