Juan Pablo Garcia Fresnadillo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Carmen Martin Hervas MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Irma Aracelly Matos Rojas MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Carmelo Palacios Miras, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Raúl Barco Laackson MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Samuel Antuna, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare sonography with MR artrography for the evaluation of supraespinatus muscle atrophy, fatty infiltration and retear in postoperative shoulder. To assess preoperative and postoperative shoulder function using Constant Shoulder Score.

Twenty-four patients (all female with mean age of 68 years old) with massive non-traumatic tear of the rotator cuff were evaluated with sonography and MR Artrography. Supraspinatus muscle atrophy was quantitatively assessed by calculating the occupation ratio (cross-sectional surface area of the supraspinatus muscle belly divided by that of its fossa). This was done by reproducing on sonography the equivalent of the “Y” view on MRI. Fatty infiltration was assessed by evaluating supraspinatus muscle echogenicity compared with that of the deltoid muscle. The occupation ratio and fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus muscle on sonography were compared with these findings on MR artrography. Also the retear of rotator cuff were evaluated with sonography and MR Artrography and the results of each one were correlated.The preoperative and postoperative shoulder function were evaluated using Constant Shoulder Score.

The occupation ratios calculated with sonography were correlated with the ratios calculed on MR Artrography (R = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.33-0.83). The fatty infiltration calculed with sonography were correlated with the calculed with MR Artrography (K = 0.18). The retear evaluated with sonograhy were correlated with the evaluated with MR Artrography (K = 0.77; 99% CI, 0.52-1). The preoperative Constant Shoulder Score P75 was 54 and the postoperative was 72, and the median preoperative was 47 and postoperative was 68.

In our study there is a good correlation between sonography and MR Artrography for the assessment of supraspinatus muscle retear. There is a moderate correlation for the assessment of supraspinatus atrophy and a bad correlation for the assessment of supraspinatus fatty infiltration. All patients improved their shoulder function, although most showed rotator cuff retear.

Sonography could be the initial imaging modality for assess the rotator cuff retear and the atrophy of supraspinatus muscle in postoperative patients with massive non-taumatic rotator cuff tear. 

Garcia Fresnadillo, J, Martin Hervas, C, Matos Rojas, I, Palacios Miras, C, Barco Laackson, R, Antuna, S, Atrophy, Fatty Infiltration, and Retear of the Supraspinatus Muscle in Postoperative Shoulder: Sonography vs MR Artrography.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11005674.html