Roentgen diagnosis of rotator cuff tear. Report of 48 surgically proven cases.

Of 48 surgically proven cases, 23 per cent had positive plain roentgen findings for rotator cuff tear.The time of onset of symptoms to positive plain roentgen findings occurred over a period of 2 months to 4 years. The greater the tear, the more rapid the appearance of the roentgen findings.The roentgen diagnosis depends upon the reversal of the normal acromial convexity and the decrease of the acromiohumeral space. The findings must be seen on both the internal and external rotational roentgenograms.