Objective In this study, the serum triglycerides and total serum cholesterol levels in patients with rotator cuff tear were determined.

Design Frequency-matched case-control study.

Setting University teaching hospital.

Participants 240 individuals who were operated on at our institution were included in the study. 120 patients (45 men and 75 women; mean age 64.86 years, range 40 to 83 years) who underwent arthroscopic repair of a rotator cuff tear were included in group 1. 120 patients (45 men and 75 women; mean age 63.91 years, range 38 to 78 years) who underwent arthroscopic meniscectomy for a meniscal tear and had no evidence of shoulder pathology were included in group 2 (control group). These patients were frequency-matched by age (within 3 years) and sex with patients of group 1.

Main outcome measures Measurement of serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations.

Results When comparing the two groups, there was no difference either in serum triglyceride concentration or total serum cholesterol concentration.

Conclusions There appears to be no association between serum triglyceride concentration and total serum cholesterol concentration in rotator cuff tears.