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. 2019 Mar 1;22(1):3-8.
doi: 10.5397/cise.2019.22.1.3. eCollection 2019 Mar.

The Volume of Subscapularis Muscle Remains Unaffected by Supraspinatus Tendon Tears: Three-dimensionally Reconstructed Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis

Yong Cheol Jun  1 , Young Lae Moon  1 , Havinder Dev Bhardwaj  2 , Jae Hwan Lim  1 , Dong Hyuk Cha  1
Affiliations

The Volume of Subscapularis Muscle Remains Unaffected by Supraspinatus Tendon Tears: Three-dimensionally Reconstructed Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis

Yong Cheol Jun et al. Clin Shoulder Elb. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the subscapularis muscle volume between the intact groups (group I) and supraspinatus tendon tear groups (group T) based on the sex and three different age groups.

Methods: Subjects with a group I and subjects with group T without any other lesions were retrospectively evaluated from among patients who received a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan between January 2011 and December 2013. The MRI scans were studied by a consultant radiologist. The subscapularis muscle volume was compared according to the age and sex; the age groups were categorized as patients in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. The volume of subscapularis muscle was measured by three-dimensional reconstructed images acquired through the axial section of 1.5T MRI.

Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between subscapularis muscle volume of the group I and group T, except for male patients in their 50s (group I: 100,650 mm3 vs. group T: 106,488 mm3) and 60s (group I: 76,347 mm3 vs. group T: 99,549 mm3) (p<0.05). Males had a larger mean volume of subscapularis muscle than females, and the subscapularis muscle volume decreased in a linear manner with increasing age.

Conclusions: Decrease in subscapularis muscle volume was observed with increasing age, and the impact of supraspinatus tear on subscapularis muscle volume is age and sex dependent.

Keywords: Muscle atrophy; Quantitative assessment; Rotator cuff tear.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest None.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Flow chart of subject selection. Group I showed no abnormality (intact) and group T had only supraspinatus tendon tear in the magnetic resonance imaging. MRI: magnetic resonance imaging.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Green label: Schematic surface of the subscapularis muscle border in a transverse section; Green colored schematic surface of the subscapularis muscle on transverse section can be seen here; Drawing the outline of the subscapularis muscle in a transverse section.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction image of subscapularis muscle. (A) 3D reconstruction of the image of the subscapularis muscle is presented. Subscapularis 3D reconstruction image; (A) is the anterior aspect of the 3D reconstruction image of subscapularis muscle, (B) is the posterior aspect, (C) is the anteroinferior aspect, (D) is the anterosuperior aspect.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Linear regression analysis of the age and subscapularis muscle volume in males. The average volume of subscapularis muscle is decreased in males, with aging.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Linear regression analysis of age and subscapularis muscle volume in females. The average volume of subscapularis muscle is decreased in females, with aging.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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