Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Injuries

Yes. Motor vehicle accidents can cause rotator cuff tears through several mechanisms: direct impact to the shoulder during the collision, the reflex action of gripping the steering wheel during sudden deceleration (which loads the rotator cuff eccentrically), and being thrown against the door or window. Falls — common in slip and fall and construction accident claims — produce rotator cuff tears when patients try to catch themselves with an outstretched arm, creating a powerful eccentric load on the supraspinatus tendon.

The distinction is made through a combination of factors: the patient's pre-accident shoulder history (absence of prior symptoms is critical), the mechanism of injury and its biomechanical relationship to the tear pattern, the characteristics of the tear on MRI (acute tears have specific imaging characteristics including tendon retraction, fluid signal, and muscle edema that differ from chronic degenerative tears), and the temporal relationship between the accident and symptom onset. MAIC's orthopedic surgeons document these factors explicitly in the causation opinion.

A partial-thickness tear involves only part of the tendon — either the articular surface (undersurface, adjacent to the joint), the bursal surface (top surface, adjacent to the subacromial bursa), or intratendinous (within the tendon substance). A full-thickness tear extends completely through the tendon from the articular to the bursal surface, creating a communication between the glenohumeral joint and the subacromial bursa. Full-thickness tears, particularly large or massive tears with retraction, are more likely to require surgical repair and have greater clinical significance for the personal injury claim.

Yes. MAIC accepts No-Fault insurance and No-Fault for rotator cuff evaluation, MRI imaging, orthopedic consultation, and physical therapy. Prior authorization for MRI and specialist consultations is managed entirely by our PI coordination team. We also accept medical liens for patients without active coverage.

MAIC provides comprehensive rotator cuff care including orthopedic evaluation and surgical consultation, MRI imaging with radiologist interpretation, physical therapy for strengthening and functional rehabilitation, and subacromial corticosteroid injections when appropriate. Our orthopedic surgeons can provide surgical causation opinions and impairment ratings. When surgical repair is indicated, we coordinate referral to appropriate surgical facilities.