Association between dyslipidemia and rotator cuff tear – A study

Introduction and Aim: Rotator cuff diseases are the most common soft tissue injuries in the upper extremity with incidence ranging from 5% to 39%. The causes of rotator cuff tendon ruptures are multifactorial. Both extrinsic and intrinsic factors affect the degeneration of rotator cuff muscles. Few animal studies have shown detrimental effects on tendons in the presence of high lipid levels. The goal of the current investigation was to determine whether abnormal blood lipid levels and rotator cuff tears are related.   Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in a hospital setting at the AJ Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre in Mangalore over a 24-month period. The sample size obtained was 93 with the convenience sampling technique. The research involved clinical examination and routine blood investigations, fasting lipid profile and radiological examination. Following all the data collection, an association was assessed between fasting lipid values and rotator cuff tear using statistical analysis.   Results: Sixty-eight patients had an increased serum cholesterol level, which was shown to have a significant association with rotator cuff tear (chi square = 12.102 and p = 0.007). 52 patients suffering from rotator cuff tear had a low level of HDL, which was shown to have a statistically significant association (chi square = 13.098 and p = 0.042). 55 patients with rotator cuff tears had high LDL levels, which were shown to have a statistically significant association, (chi square = 9.487 and p = 0.023). 75 patients with rotator cuff tears had high triglyceride levels, which were shown to have a statistically significant association chi square = 8.044 and p = 0.044.   Conclusion: Our research revealed a statistically significant correlation between rotator cuff injuries and elevated serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL levels, and low HDL levels.