CLINICAL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CHARACTERISTICS OF ROTATOR CUFF TEARS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ARTHROSCOPIC REPAIR

Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of shoulder pain and functional impairment. This study aimed to describe the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of patients with rotator cuff tears undergoing arthroscopic repair and to explore differences between partial- and full-thickness tears. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 41 patients treated at Military Hospital 175 in 2025–2026. The mean age was 57.1 ± 8.5 years, and 53.7% were male. Limited shoulder motion was observed in 61.0%, and the Jobe test was positive in 80.5%. On MRI, full-thickness tears predominated (85.4%), with supraspinatus involvement in all tear-pattern categories; isolated supraspinatus tears accounted for 46.3%. Long-head biceps tendon and labral injuries were identified in 24.4% and 39.0%, respectively. No significant differences in selected demographic and clinical characteristics were observed between partial- and full-thickness tears (all p>0.05). In conclusion, full-thickness tears with frequent supraspinatus involvement predominated in this surgical cohort. Clinical findings did not significantly differ between partial- and full-thickness tears, supporting combined clinical and MRI assessment for preoperative characterization.