Rotator cuff tear
ICD-10 M75.1 · ICD-11 FB53.1

Treatment of Full-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear with Symptomatic Acromioclavicular Joint

This protocol addresses patients with a confirmed full-thickness rotator cuff tear who also present with a symptomatic acromioclavicular joint — a distinct clinical combination that directly influences treatment selection and planning.

Clinical Scenario

The patient has a full-thickness rotator cuff tear with concurrent symptomatic involvement of the acromioclavicular joint. This co-presentation is explicitly accounted for in the structured treatment approach, as it affects both conservative and procedural management decisions.

Treatment Approach (Partial Overview)

Management in this setting may involve physical therapy alongside a targeted injection-based intervention for short-term improvement in shoulder pain and function. The complete structured regimen — including sequencing, specific modalities, and procedural detail — is available via the full protocol.

Clinical Goals

Treatment aims for measurable improvement in validated shoulder outcome scores and strength, alongside meaningful reduction in pain — with evidence supporting sustained benefit for a defined period following appropriate intervention.

Instant Access to Structured Evidence-Based Regimens

References

  1. Moderate strength evidence supports the use of distal clavicle resection as a concomitant treatment to arthroscopic repair for patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears and symptomatic acromioclavicular joints.
  2. Strong evidence supports that both physical therapy and operative treatment result in significant improvement in patient-reported outcomes for patients with symptomatic small to medium full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
  3. Moderate evidence supports the use of a single injection of corticosteroids with local anesthetic for short-term improvement in both pain and function for patients with shoulder pain.
  4. Both physical therapy and operative repair groups demonstrated clinically meaningful improvement from baseline in the Constant score, ASES score, SF-36 score, and strength.
  5. It showed an advantage in favor of injections with improvement in pain and functional scores for up to 12 weeks following the injection.
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