To evaluate the clinical efficacy of conservative treatment for rotator cuff tear associated with mediation injection and physiotherapy.

The patients with full rotator cuff tear were given conservative treatment in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from October 2014 to April 2015. The subacromial spaces were injected with long-acting hormone (compound betamethasone) + lidocaine, and the glenohumeral joints were injected with sodium hyaluronate, combining with the physical therapy, such as hyperthermia, stretching, active and passive joint motions and muscle strength exercise. All the patients received conservative treatment for at least six months. Shoulder joint function score (Constant), University of California at Los Angeles shoulder rating scale (UCLA)and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used before and after conservative treatment to evaluate the shoulder joint before and during follow-up. Paired t test was used to analyze the data before and during conservative treatment.

A total of 75 patients were followed up for 14 to 20 months. The mean age of the patients was (62±11) years. Among the patients, 40% had no pain relief and 30% did not require oral pain medication. Seventy percent of the patients had no impact on their daily lives. Before conservative treatment, UCLA score (22.1±1.5), Constant score (59.2±5.9), VAS score (3.9±0.3), and UCLA score (35.5±1.3), Constant score (87.4±1.3), and VAS score (1.8±0.5) at the last follow-up showed statistically significant differences (t=-5.436, -8.935, -4.136, all P<0.01).

The subacromial spaces injection of long-acting hormone + lidocaine and the glenohumeral joints injection with sodium hyaluronate combining with the physical therapy may have good clinical effects for rotator cuff tear.