This prospective cohort study followed 174 symptomatic rotator cuff tears managed nonoperatively with serial MRI over a mean 19 months to identify which patient and tear characteristics independently predict tear size progression.
When counseling a patient on nonoperative management, expect roughly half of symptomatic tears to grow regardless of age or activity level — the highest-risk profile is a medium-sized, full-thickness tear in a smoker, and because progression is usually painless, scheduled MRI surveillance is warranted even after successful symptom control.
This prospective cohort study followed 174 symptomatic rotator cuff tears managed nonoperatively with serial MRI over a mean 19 months to identify which patient and tear characteristics independently predict tear size progression.
When counseling a patient on nonoperative management, expect roughly half of symptomatic tears to grow regardless of age or activity level — the highest-risk profile is a medium-sized, full-thickness tear in a smoker, and because progression is usually painless, scheduled MRI surveillance is warranted even after successful symptom control.