Beyond 50%: Identifying Significant Rotator Cuff Tears

Interstitial tears of the rotator cuff can cause significant shoulder pain. Although tears < 50 % of tendon thickness resolve with conservative management over a period of time tears > 50 % and associated impingement may cause persitiant issues . Arthroscopy can be a bit tricky with regards to picking up these tears as the burial and articular surfaces are intact . Ian Low described the bubble test to identify these tears by saline injection where the affected area swells up on injection of saline ; facilitating the tear identification and repair .