The Effect of the Acromion Shape on Rotator Cuff Tears / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The shape of the acromion was analyzed radiologically to assess the effect on rotator cuff tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rotator cuff tear group consisted of 91 patients with a mean age 55.6 years (range, 27-85 years) and the normal shoulder articular disease (control) group consisted of 100 subjects with a mean age of 42.9 years (range, 18-72 years). The lateral extension of the acromion and the lateral acromial angle were measured on an oblique coronal MRI, and the anterior covering of the acromionon was measured on a supraspinatus outlet view. RESULTS: The lateral extension of the acrominon of the rotator cuff tear group of patients and the control group of subjects was 0.70+/-0.07 and 0.64+/-0.10, respectively. The lateral acromial angle was 72.6+/-6.5degrees and 76.4+/-6.5degrees, respectively, and the anterior covering of the acromion was measured to be 0.55+/-0.13 and 0.51+/-0.14, respectively. In a comparison with the control group of subjects, the lateral extension of the acrominon of the rotator cuff tear group of patients was larger and the lateral acromial angle was smaller; these findings were statistically significant (p<0.001). In addition, the correlation coefficients of the lateral extension of the acromion to the lateral acromial angle in the rotator cuff tear group of patients and in the control group of subjects was -0.44 and -0.46, respectively; a statistically significant correlation was seeen (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the measurement of the lateral extension of the acromion and the lateral acromial angle determines the shape of the acromion, and thus it may represent a useful marker to confirm the interrelationship of a rotator cuff tear.