A preliminary investigation into rotator cuff injuries in patients with proximal humeral fracture

Objective To investigate the incidence and associated factors of rotator cuff injuries in patients surgically treated for proximal humerus fracture. Methods A retrospective investigation was conducted in the patients over 40 years old who had been surgically treated for proximal humeral fracture from April 10th 2017 to December 1st 2017 at Department of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. Intraoperative direct visualization was used to collect their clinical data concerning rotator cuff injuries in combination with proximal humeral fracture. All the data were analyzed to find the incidence, gender ratio, age distribution and fracture type distribution concerning rotator cuff injuries. Results A total of 143 eligible patients were included in this investigation. Their average age was 61.95 years and their male-female ratio 1:2.3. The incidence was 46.2% (66/143) for all the rotator cuff injuries in proximal humerus fracture and 23.1% (33/143) just for rotator cuff tears. There were no significant differences in age, male to female ratio or distribution of Neer fracture type between patients with rotator cuff injury and those without rotator cuff injury (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the age and or distribution of Neer fracture type between patients with rotator cuff tear and patients without rotator cuff tear (P>0.05). The proportion of females in patients with rotator cuff tears (84.8%, 28/33) was significantly higher than that in patients with no rotator cuff tears (63.6%, 21/33) (P 0.05). Conclusions Concomitant rotator cuff injuries are relatively common in patients over 40 years old with a proximal humerus fracture. About half of the injuries may be simple wear or wear plus degeneration while the other half rotator cuff tear happening mostly in female patients. The incidence of concomitant rotator cuff injury may increase with the age of the patients with a proximal humerus fracture. Key words: Humeral fractures; Shoulder joint; Aged; Wounds and injuries; Lacerations