Diagnosis of bursal-side partial-thickness rotator cuff tears.

To study the clinical features and diagnosis of bursal-side partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. Methods:  From August 1999 to June 2006, 38 patients with bursal-side partial-thickness rotator cuff tear were evaluated. Twenty-eight men and ten women of average age 45.7 years (range, 18-69 years) with 11 left and 27 right shoulders were studied. According to the Ellman classification, 6 cases were classified as grade I, 7 as II and 25 as III. Physical and X-ray examination, including anteroposterior and supraspinatus outlet views, were performed on both shoulders of all patients. Ultrasonography and MR examination were performed in 27 and 35 patients, respectively. Xiao J, Cui GQ, Wang JQ. Orthop Surg. 2010 Nov;2(4):260-5. PMID: 22009960