A Rare Case of Bilateral Supraspinatus Tendon Tears with Unilateral Musculotendinous Junction Involvement in an Elderly Patient

Authors

Kanyamas Poompreecha, Department of Rehabilitation, Charoenkrungpracharak Hospital, Department of Medical Services, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Bangkok, ThailandFollow
Patsaree Pattanasuwanna, Rehabilitation unit, Nakhon Pathom Hospital, Thailand
Ya-Chu Hsu, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, LotungPoh-Ai Hospital, Lo-Hsu Foundation, Yilan County, Taiwan

Abstract

Rotator cuff (RC) tears are a common cause of shoulder pain in the elderly, though tears at the musculotendinous junction (MTJ) are uncommonly observed. We present a rare case of bilateral supraspinatus tendon tears in a 68-year-old male, with unilateral involvement of the MTJ. Symptoms developed three months after resuming resistance training following left acromioclavicular dislocation surgery. Ultrasound revealed a full-thickness insertional tear on the left and a partial MTJ tear on the right. Conservative treatment led to symptom resolution without surgery. This case highlights the diagnostic value of dynamic ultrasound for subtle rotator cuff and MTJ lesions in elderly patients.

Recommended Citation

Poompreecha, Kanyamas; Pattanasuwanna, Patsaree; and Hsu, Ya-Chu (2025) "A Rare Case of Bilateral Supraspinatus Tendon Tears with Unilateral Musculotendinous Junction Involvement in an Elderly Patient," Rehabilitation Practice and Science: Vol. 2025: Iss. 2, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6315/3005-3846.2267
Available at: https://rps.researchcommons.org/journal/vol2025/iss2/6