Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
đ¨Emergency? If you have severe symptoms, difficulty breathing, or think it's an emergency, call 000 immediately.
Massive Rotator Cuff Tears
Massive rotator cuff tears involve two or more complete tendon tears (or one very large tear more than 5cm), causing significant shoulder weakness, difficulty lifting the arm overhead, and night pain - they occur in about 10-40% of all rotator cuff tears and are more challenging to repair, with treatment options ranging from physiotherapy and partial repairs to reverse shoulder replacement depending on age, activity level, and muscle quality.
đWhat is Massive Rotator Cuff Tears?
Massive rotator cuff tears involve two or more complete tendon tears (or one very large tear more than 5cm), causing significant shoulder weakness, difficulty lifting the arm overhead, and night pain - they occur in about 10-40% of all rotator cuff tears and are more challenging to repair, with treatment options ranging from physiotherapy and partial repairs to reverse shoulder replacement depending on age, activity level, and muscle quality.
đŦWhat Causes It?
- Degenerative wear and tear over time in people over 60 years (most common cause)
- Progression from smaller rotator cuff tear left untreated over years
- Acute traumatic injury (fall, lifting heavy object) in person with pre-existing partial tear
- Failed previous rotator cuff repair with re-tear
â ī¸Risk Factors
You may be at higher risk if:
- Age over 60 years (massive tears much more common with aging)
- Smoking (impairs tendon healing, increases tear size progression)
- History of smaller rotator cuff tear that wasn't repaired
- Occupations requiring repetitive overhead work (painters, electricians)
- Previous shoulder injury or surgery
đĄī¸Prevention
- âTreat small rotator cuff tears early before they enlarge to massive tears
- âQuit smoking (reduces tear progression and improves healing if surgery needed)
- âMaintain shoulder strength with regular exercises as you age
- âAvoid repetitive overhead heavy lifting if you have known partial rotator cuff tear