The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Aug 2009
Outcome of nonoperative treatment of symptomatic rotator cuff tears monitored by magnetic resonance imaging.
Rotator cuff tears are very common, but little is known about the outcome of nonoperative treatment of symptomatic tears in terms of progression and the need for surgical intervention. ⋯ Factors that are associated with progression of a rotator cuff tear are an age of more than sixty years, a full-thickness tear, and fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff muscle(s). In the long-term follow-up of nonoperatively treated rotator cuff tears, magnetic resonance imaging can be used to monitor rotator cuff changes and guide patient management.