Rotator cuff- full thickness tear

A rotator cuff tear is when one or more of the rotator cuff tendons becomes partially or completely detached from the head of the humerus.

There are different types of tears

• Partial tear. This type of tear does not completely detach the tendon from the bone. It is called partial because the tear goes only partially through the thickness of the tendon. The tendon is still attached to the bone, but it is thinned.
• Full-thickness tear. With this type of tear, there is detachment of part of the tendon from the bone/ humeral head.
• Full-thickness, Full-Width tear. This type of tear is a complete detachment of the rotator cuff tendon from the bone.

Most tears occur in the supraspinatus tendon, but other parts of the rotator cuff may also be involved.

In many cases, torn tendons begin by fraying. As the damage progresses, the tendon can completely tear, sometimes with lifting a heavy object.

Acute Tear

If you fall down on your outstretched arm or lift something too heavy with a jerking motion, you can tear your rotator cuff. This type of tear can occur with other injuries, such as a broken collarbone, a dislocated shoulder, or a wrist fracture.

Tears that happen suddenly, such as from a fall, usually cause intense pain. There may be a snapping sensation and immediate weakness in your upper arm.

Degenerative (Wear-Related) Tear

Most tears are the result of a wearing down of the tendon that occurs slowly over time. This degeneration naturally occurs as we age and in most cases is relatively painless.

Rotator cuff tears are more common in the dominant arm — the arm you prefer to use for most tasks. If you have a degenerative tear in one shoulder, there is a greater likelihood of a rotator cuff tear in the opposite shoulder — even if you have no pain in that shoulder.

Tears that develop slowly due to overuse may also cause pain and arm weakness. You may have pain in the shoulder when you lift your arm, or pain that moves down your arm.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include:

• Pain at rest and at night, particularly if lying on the affected shoulder
• Pain when lifting and lowering your arm or with specific movements
• Weakness when lifting or rotating your arm
• Crepitus, or a crackling sensation, when moving your shoulder in certain positions

It should be noted that some rotator cuff tears are not painful. These tears, however, may still result in arm weakness and other symptoms