Abstract:
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Background: Investigation of joint mechanics of patients suffering from rotator cuff tears in comparison to healthy volunteers with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: Evaluated was the subacromial space width, superior translation and anterior/posterior translation of the humeral head during abduction with and without mechanical loading in 12 patients (11men, 1 woman, mean age 54 (40-64 years) with different stages of rotator cuff disease. 9 volunteers were examined as a control group. An open MR scanner was used with an abduction device developed especially for this study. Results: Partial and complete tears of the supraspinatus tendon did not demonstrate a different glenohumeral biomechanics compared with the controls. Tears involving additionally the infraspinatus and/or the subscapularis tendon showed a significant (p<0.05) superior decentering at the 0 and 45 degree position which did not increase under application of a mechanical load. The extent of decentering correlates with the size of tears (Spearman rank correlation p=0.0086). In terms of anterior or posterior translation of the rotational center of the humeral head, we did not observe a decentering in any stages of rotator cuff disease. Conclusions: We found that partial tears and tears of the supraspinatus tendon do not result in a pathologic joint mechanics of the shoulder. Only when the infraspinatus and the subscapularis tendon were involved was there cranial decentering, a fact which underlines their function as the major depressor of the humeral head.
Kenn MD, W,
Functional MRI of Rotator Cuff Tears. Radiological Society of North America 2003 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 30 - December 5, 2003 ,Chicago IL.
http://archive.rsna.org/2003/3106737.html
