The Correlation between Various Shoulder Anatomical Indices on X-Ray and Subacromial Impingement and Morphology of Rotator Cuff Tears

Objectives

Rotator cuff injury caused by subacromial impingement presents different morphologies. This study aims to investigate the correlation between various shoulder anatomical indexes on X-ray with subacromial impingement and morphology of rotator cuff tears to facilitate surgical management.

Method

This retrospective study was carried out between January 2020 and May 2022. Patients who were diagnosed as sub-acromial impingement associated with rotator cuff tears (without tendon retraction) and received arthroscopic surgery were enrolled in this study. The radiographic indexes of acromial slope (AS), acromial tilt (AT), lateral acromial angle (LAA), acromial Index (AI), and sub-acromial distance (SAD) were measured on preoperative true AP view and outlet view. The location of rotator cuff tear (anterior, middle, posterior, medial, and lateral) and morphology of tear (horizontal, longitudinal, L-shaped, and irregular shaped) were evaluated by arthroscopy. Groups were set up due to different tear location and tear morphologies, by comparing the various radiographic indices between each group (one-way analysis of variance and t-test), the correlation between radiographic indices and tear characteristics was investigated.

Results

We analyzed 92 shoulders from 92 patients with a mean age of 57.23 ± 8.45 years. The AS in anterior tear group (29.32 ± 6.91°) was significantly larger than that in middle tear group (18.41 ± 6.13°) (p = 0.000) and posterior tear group (24.01 ± 7.69°) (p = 0.041). The AS in posterior tear group (24.01 ± 7.69°) was significantly larger than that in middle tear group (18.41 ± 6.13°) (p = 0.029). The LAA in middle tear group (67.41 ± 6.54°) was significantly smaller than that in posterior group (72.74 ± 8.78°) (p = 0.046). The AS in longitudinal tear group (26.86 ± 8.41°) was significantly larger than that in horizontal tear group (22.05 ± 9.47°) (p = 0.035) and L-shaped group (21.56 ± 6.62°) (p = 0.032). The LAA in horizontal group (70.60 ± 6.50°) was significantly larger than that in L-shaped group (66.39 ± 7.31°) (p = 0.033). The AI in L-shaped tear group (0.832 ± 0.074) was significantly larger than that in horizontal tear group (0.780 ± 0.084) (p = 0.019) and irregular tear group (0.781 ± 0.068) (p = 0.047).

Conclusion

Acromion with a larger AS and a smaller LAA tend to cause anterior or posterior rotator cuff tears rather than middle tears in sub-acromial impingement. Meanwhile acromion with a larger AS tends to cause a longitudinal tear, a larger LAA tends to cause horizontal tears and a larger AI tends to cause L-shaped tears.     

Correlation between Rotator Cuff Tears and Repeated Subacromial Steroid Injections: A Case-Controlled Study

INTRODUCTION

Concern exists regarding potential damage to the rotator cuff from repeated corticosteroid injections into the subacromial space.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective, case-controlled study, 230 consecutive patients presenting to three orthopaedic units with subacromial impingement and investigated as an end-point with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the shoulder were divided into groups having received less than three or three or more subacromial injections of corticosteroids.

RESULTS

With no significant difference in age and sex distribution, analysis by MRI showed no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of rotator cuff tear (P < 1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

This suggests that corticosteroid use in patients with subacromial impingement should not be considered a causative factor in rotator cuff tears.     

The Factors Affecting the Clinical Outcome and Integrity of Arthroscopically Repaired Rotator Cuff Tears of the Shoulder

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional and anatomic results of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, and to analyze the factors affecting the integrity of arthroscopically repaired rotator cuff tears of the shoulder.

Methods

One hundred sixty-nine consecutive shoulders that underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, had a postoperative MRI evaluation and were followed for at least two years were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 57.6 years (range, 38 to 74 years) and the mean follow-up period was 39 months (range, 24 to 83 months).

Results

The rotator cuff was completely healed in 131 (77.5%) out of 169 shoulders and recurrent tears occurred in 38 shoulders (22.5%). At the last follow-up visit, the mean score for pain during motion was 1.53 (range, 0 to 4) in the completely healed group and 1.59 (range, 0 to 4) in the group with recurrent tears (p = 0.092). The average elevation strength was 7.87 kg (range, 4.96 to 11.62 kg) and 5.25 kg (range, 4.15 to 8.13 kg) and the mean University of California at Los Angeles score was 30.96 (range, 26 to 35) and 30.64 (range, 23 to 34), respectively (p < 0.001, p = 0.798). The complete healing rate was 87.8% in the group less than 50 years of age (49 shoulders), 79.4% in the group over 51 years but less than 60 years of age (68 shoulders), and 65.4% in the group over 61 years of age (52 shoulders, p = 0.049); it was 96.7% in the group with small-sized tears (30 shoulders), 87.3% in the group with medium-sized tears (71 shoulders), and 58.8% in the group with large-sized or massive tears (68 shoulders, p = 0.009). All of the rotator cuffs with a global fatty degeneration index of greater than two preoperatively had recurrent tears.

Conclusions

Arthroscopic repair of full-thickness rotator cuff tears led to a relatively high rate of recurrent defects. However, the minimum two-year follow up demonstrated excellent pain relief and improvement in the ability to perform the activities of daily living, despite the structural failures. The factors affecting tendon healing were the patient''s age, the size and extent of the tear, and the presence of fatty degeneration in the rotator cuff muscle.     

Anatomic Reduction and Next-Generation Fixation Constructs for Arthroscopic Repair of Crescent,L-Shaped,and U-Shaped Rotator Cuff Tears

Emerging techniques and instrumentation have allowed orthopaedic surgeons to achieve rotator cuff repair through an all-arthroscopic technique. The most critical steps in rotator cuff repair consist of proper identification of the cuff tear pattern and anatomic restoration of the torn tendon footprint. With anatomic reduction of the rotator cuff tendons, a sound fixation construct can help restore rotator cuff contact pressure and kinematics, allowing for decreased repair tension and optimal healing potential. We provide surgical methods to recognize tear patterns and present a repair construct that will restore the anatomic footprint of the torn rotator cuff tendon. The key, initial maneuver to restore the anatomic footprint of the cuff includes placement of a suture anchor at the anterolateral corner for L-shaped tears and at the posterolateral corner for reverse L–shaped and U-shaped tears. After insertion of the medial-row anchors, the tendon stitches should be planned by use of a grasper to hold the tendon in a reduced position and guide location of the stitch. The lateral row with suture bridge can be visualized, and the final repair construct should produce an anatomic restoration of the rotator cuff footprint.     

关节镜辅助小切口肩袖修复术治疗肩袖撕裂

目的 探讨关节镜辅助小切口修复术治疗肩袖撕裂的临床效果. 方法 1999年3月～2004年3月应用关节镜辅助小切口修复术治疗肩袖撕裂22例.13例行关节镜检查,小切口肩峰下间隙减压及肩袖修复术;9例行关节镜下肩峰下间隙减压及小切口肩袖修复术.采用UCLA肩评分标准进行评价. 结果 22例随访12～72个月,平均47个月,UCLA评分由术前（14.8±3.8）分升至术后（32.0±4.7）分（t=15.086,P=0.000）.优7例,良13例,可1例,差1例;20例满意. 结论 关节镜辅助小切口修复术是治疗肩袖撕裂的有效方法,操作简单,创伤小.     

Clinical Evidence Shows No Difference Between Single- and Double-Row Repair for Rotator Cuff Tears

Tears of the rotator cuff may be repaired by single- or double-row techniques. Single-row methods do not restore the rotator cuff footprint but do provide a good functional outcome. We surveyed the literature to ascertain the origin of the current trend of using double-row methods of repair. The footprint repair is a benefit of double-row fixation with strong evidence of its biomechanical success. However, the functional outcome of double-row fixation is equivalent to single-row fixation. Given the lack of scientific evidence and despite the enthusiasm of surgeons for this new technique, single-row fixation remains an acceptable method for managing these injuries, and it is our opinion that it is the preferable method.