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Case 75

Complete rotator cuff tear

MRI of a painful, restricted shoulder

This 65 year old lady complained of pain over the lateral aspect of her right shoulder and restricted movement. On examination she was unable to fully abduct her right arm. There was no history of acute trauma.

Findings

There is extensive new bone formation around the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ), seen as low signal on all the images (1). This is due to degenerative change in the ACJ.

This in turn impinges on the supraspinatus tendon, which has ruptured, as evidenced by the discontinuity of the tendon on the coronal images, the retracted muscle belly (2), the fluid extending from the joint into the subacromial bursa (3).

Diagnosis

Complete rotator cuff tear, secondary to impingement syndrome.

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