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. 2018 Nov;52(6):419-422.
doi: 10.1016/j.aott.2018.08.003. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Subacromial space volume in patients with rotator cuff tear: The effect of surgical repair

Murad Pepe  1 , Onur Kocadal  2 , Zafer Gunes  3 , Emre Calisal  4 , Ertugrul Aksahin  5 , Cem Nuri Aktekin  6
Affiliations

Subacromial space volume in patients with rotator cuff tear: The effect of surgical repair

Murad Pepe et al. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2018 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the rotator cuff tear repair on subacromial space volume.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 21 eligible patients (5 males and 16 females; mean age: 56.4 (range; 46-71) years) who had shoulder arthroscopy for unilateral full-thickness small to medium rotator cuff tear and normal controlateral shoulder joint. The mean follow-up time was 16.1 (range; 12-25) months. Preoperative and postoperative 1 year bilateral shoulder MRIs and Constant scores were reviewed. Subacromial volume was calculated by using Osirix software. Pre-, postoperative and healthy side (contralateral control group) subacromial volumes were recorded. Paired sample and t-tests were used to compare the pre- and postoperative groups. Independent sample t-tests were used to compare the healthy and pre- and postoperative groups. The correlation between the changes in the subacromial volume and the shoulder Constant score were analyzed using Pearson correlation analyses.

Results: The mean subacromial volume of the preoperative group was 2.95 cm3 (range; 1.53-4.23) and the postoperative group was 3.59 cm3 (range; 2.12-4.84). The volume increase was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean subacromial volume of the control group was 3.93 cm3 (range; 2.77-5.03), and the difference between the preoperative group and the control group was statistically significant. There was no significant difference found between the postoperative group and the control group (p = 0.156). There was no significant correlation found between the volume and the constant score changes (r = 0.170, p = 0.515).

Conclusion: The subacromial space volume significantly decreases in full-thickness rotator cuff tears smaller than 3 cm and the surgical repair increases the subacromial volume significantly.

Level of evidence: Level IV; Diagnostic Study.

Keywords: Full-thickness tear; MR imaging; Rotator cuff tear; Single-row repair; Subacromial space; Volumetric analysis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Subacromial volume measurement obtained using a computer-assisted method. At each image (a, b, c), subacromial space margins were outlined by pencil tool and then (d) volume was computed automatically by program in terms of cm3.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Diagram showing the mean subacromial volume of control, preoperative and postoperative group. P values illustrated to show differences relative to control group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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