Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPartial vs. Complete TearSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Partial vs. Complete Tear
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
A partialrotator cuff tear, also known as partial thickness rotator cuff tear, is a type of shoulder injury that affects the tendons of therotator cuff musclesof the shoulder. As opposed to a full-thickness tear where the entire tendon is severed, only a portion of the tendon is torn.
A partial rotator cuff tear tends to be treated more conservatively with rest, physical therapy, pain management, and other minimally invasive procedures. Severe cases may require the same surgeries used to treat complete rotator cuff tears.
This article describes the symptoms and causes of partial rotator cuff tears and how they differ from complete rotator cuff tears. It also explains how this common orthopedic condition is diagnosed, treated, and prevented.
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What’s the Difference Between a Full Rotator Cuff Tear and a Partial Rotator Cuff Tear?
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles andtendonsthat surround the shoulder joint. A rotator cuff tear involves the tendons rather than the muscles.
These include:
Of the four, thesupraspinatus tendonis the one the most commonly injured.
A full-thickness tear, also known as a complete rotator cuff tear, is the complete rupture and separation of the tendon from the bone. It causes many of the same symptoms as a partial rupture but tends to be more painful and debilitating.
A partial rotator cuff tear does not cause the separation of the tendon from the bone. Some partial tears are subtle and only involve superficial fraying. Others can be quite extensive, causing extreme thinning that can lead to a complete rupture.
You can have more than one torn rotator cuff tear at the same time, either complete or partial.
What Are the Symptoms of a Partial Rotator Cuff Tear?
When you have a complete rotator cuff tear, you usually know it; the pain, weakness, and loss of shoulder movement can be abrupt and alarming. With a partial rotator cuff tear, the symptoms can often be subtle and lack the clear signs of a shoulder injury.
Possible symptoms of a partial tear include:
Unlike a complete rotator cuff tear, symptoms of a partial tear tend to develop gradually and worsen over time.
Pain on its own is not a reliable indicator of a partial rotator cuff tear. Shoulder weakness and a loss of range of motion are far better indicators.
What Is Rotator Cuff Pain?
What Causes a Partial Rotator Cuff Tear?
A partial rotator cuff tear can be the result or a consequence of a shoulder injury, Oftentimes, a number of factors are involved that contribute to the tear, including;
How Is a Partial Cuff Tear Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of a partial rotator cuff tear starts with a review of your medical history and a physical exam. During the exam, the healthcare provider will want to check therange of motionof your shoulder and for any pain or weakness.
Imaging studies are central to the diagnosis and may involve:
How Is a Partial Rotator Cuff Tear Treated?
A partial rotator cuff tear tends to be treated more conservatively than a complete rotator cuff tear, which invariably requires surgery.
The primary aim of the treatment is to allow the tendon to heal naturally while minimizing pain and inflammation. It is only when conservative treatments fail that more invasive options are considered.
Conservative treatments for a partial rotator cuff tear include:
When Is Surgery Necessary?
If symptoms of a partial rotator cuff tear persist despite conservative treatments, surgery may be considered. With that being said, most people do not require surgery unless the damage is severe or there is a risk of a complete rupture.
If surgery is indicated, most cases are performedarthroscopicallyusing a series of small incisions, specialized surgical equipment, and a thin, fiber-optic scope.Open surgeryinvolving a large incision and a scalpel is generally reserved for cases where the tendon has completely ruptured.
Several arthroscopic procedures may be used to treat a partial tear:
If more than 50% of the tendon has been torn, a rotator cuff repair is typically performed.
How Long Does a Partially Torn Rotator Cuff Take to Heal?
The recovery time for a partialrotator cuff tearcan vary based on the size and location of the tear. Other factors include your age, general health, whether you smoke or not, and whether you need surgery or not.
Generally speaking:
How Are Partial Rotator Cuff Tears Prevented?
As most partial rotator cuff tears are related to age and repetitive stress, there are things you can do to significantly the risk:
Summary
Partial rotator cuff tears involve the partial rupture of tendons supporting the shoulder joint. Pain, weakness, reduced range of motion, and clicking sounds are common signs. Older age, repetitive stress, and current or past shoulder trauma can all contribute to a rotator cuff injury.
Rest, ice application, OTC painkillers, physical therapy, and cortisone shots are some of the treatments commonly used for a partial rotator cuff tear.
The majority of partial tears can fully recover with nonsurgical treatment. Surgery is generally reserved for people with a complete rotator cuff tear or those at high risk of one.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Checketts JX, Scott J, Gordon J, et al.An evaluation of the rotator cuff repair research pipeline.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(11):2325967118805731. doi:10.1177/2325967118805731Matthewson G, Beach CJ, Nelson AA, et al.Partial thickness rotator cuff tears: current concepts.Adv Orthop. 2015;2015:458786. doi:10.1155/2015/458786Penn Medicine.Rotator cuff tear treatment and diagnosis.Edwards P, Ebert J, Joss B, Bhabra G, Ackland T, Wang A.Exercise rehabilitation in the non-operative management of rotator cuff tears: a review of the literature.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016;11(2):279-301.Plancher KD, Shanmugam J, Briggs K, Petterson SC.Diagnosis and management of partial thickness rotator cuff tears: a comprehensive review.J Am Acad Orthop Surg.2021 Dec 15;29(24):1031-1043. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-01092American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears: surgical treatment options.Additional ReadingPedowitz RA, et al.Optimizing the management of rotator cuff problems.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2011 Jun;19(6):368-79.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Checketts JX, Scott J, Gordon J, et al.An evaluation of the rotator cuff repair research pipeline.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(11):2325967118805731. doi:10.1177/2325967118805731Matthewson G, Beach CJ, Nelson AA, et al.Partial thickness rotator cuff tears: current concepts.Adv Orthop. 2015;2015:458786. doi:10.1155/2015/458786Penn Medicine.Rotator cuff tear treatment and diagnosis.Edwards P, Ebert J, Joss B, Bhabra G, Ackland T, Wang A.Exercise rehabilitation in the non-operative management of rotator cuff tears: a review of the literature.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016;11(2):279-301.Plancher KD, Shanmugam J, Briggs K, Petterson SC.Diagnosis and management of partial thickness rotator cuff tears: a comprehensive review.J Am Acad Orthop Surg.2021 Dec 15;29(24):1031-1043. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-01092American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears: surgical treatment options.Additional ReadingPedowitz RA, et al.Optimizing the management of rotator cuff problems.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2011 Jun;19(6):368-79.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Checketts JX, Scott J, Gordon J, et al.An evaluation of the rotator cuff repair research pipeline.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(11):2325967118805731. doi:10.1177/2325967118805731Matthewson G, Beach CJ, Nelson AA, et al.Partial thickness rotator cuff tears: current concepts.Adv Orthop. 2015;2015:458786. doi:10.1155/2015/458786Penn Medicine.Rotator cuff tear treatment and diagnosis.Edwards P, Ebert J, Joss B, Bhabra G, Ackland T, Wang A.Exercise rehabilitation in the non-operative management of rotator cuff tears: a review of the literature.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016;11(2):279-301.Plancher KD, Shanmugam J, Briggs K, Petterson SC.Diagnosis and management of partial thickness rotator cuff tears: a comprehensive review.J Am Acad Orthop Surg.2021 Dec 15;29(24):1031-1043. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-01092American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears: surgical treatment options.
Checketts JX, Scott J, Gordon J, et al.An evaluation of the rotator cuff repair research pipeline.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(11):2325967118805731. doi:10.1177/2325967118805731
Matthewson G, Beach CJ, Nelson AA, et al.Partial thickness rotator cuff tears: current concepts.Adv Orthop. 2015;2015:458786. doi:10.1155/2015/458786
Penn Medicine.Rotator cuff tear treatment and diagnosis.
Edwards P, Ebert J, Joss B, Bhabra G, Ackland T, Wang A.Exercise rehabilitation in the non-operative management of rotator cuff tears: a review of the literature.Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2016;11(2):279-301.
Plancher KD, Shanmugam J, Briggs K, Petterson SC.Diagnosis and management of partial thickness rotator cuff tears: a comprehensive review.J Am Acad Orthop Surg.2021 Dec 15;29(24):1031-1043. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-01092
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears: surgical treatment options.
Pedowitz RA, et al.Optimizing the management of rotator cuff problems.J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2011 Jun;19(6):368-79.
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