Abstract
Injuries of the musculotendinous cuff are frequent and often cause long periods of disability.
The cuff is subject to progressive degenerative changes which are visible microscopically in most persons past 30 years of age, and visible grossly in those past 40. The cuff ruptures through areas of degeneration.
A great majority of patients recover good shoulder function under conservative treatment.
Operation is not urgent. Accurate diagnosis of a complete tear of the cuff cannot be made until the acute phase of injury has passed, and delay in operating does not decrease chances of good results.
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