Objective: Looking for factors that can have negative influence in the evolution and treatment of the rotator cuff injuries of the shoulder.

Material and method: We have done a review of different journal articles following the next parameters. Systemize clinical exploration, requested complementary explorations and a therapeutic planning.

Results: The clinical exploration can detect data that indicates a bad evolution as restricted passive and active movement of the shoulder and a lost of strength of the external rotation of the limb. An early diagnose and treatment improve the results in the isolated ruptures of the rotator cuff.
Associated instability with partial lessions of the rotator cuff on the joint side must be consider mainly in the young people. In the partial ruptures of the rotator cuff the subacromial decompression is not enough in the long term results. The rerupture of the rotator cuff is the most common complication of the rotator cuff repair.

Correspondencia:

Mendoza López M.
Hospital FREMAP Barcelona
Madrazo 8-10. 08006 Barcelona.
E-mail: manuel_mendoza@fremap.es

Patología del Aparato Locomotor, 2007; 5 (1): 3-10