Can subcoracoid cyst formation be a sign of anterosuperior rotator cuff tears and biceps pulley lesions? A prospective radiologic and arthroscopic correlation study.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the pathologies associated with subcoracoid cysts (ScCs) in patients with rotator cuff (RC) tears and the postoperative appearance of ScCs after arthroscopic repair.

METHODS

A total of 114 patients who underwent arthroscopic RC repair were prospectively evaluated. The inclusion criteria were as follows: patients with or without ScCs, patients with Patte class 1 or 2 tears, and patients who were 40-65 years of age. Forty-four patients with ScCs (group 1) were evaluated during the 12-month study period. Fifty-two patients who had no ScCs (group 2) were evaluated as a control group. Preoperative and postoperative cyst volumes were measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and arthroscopic findings were noted.

RESULTS

Thirty-one patients (70%) in group 1 had a subscapularis tear vs. 10 patients (19%) in group 2 (P < .001). Biceps lesions were encountered in 32 patients (72%) in group 1, whereas 12 patients (23%) had a biceps lesion in group 2 (P < .001). Cyst volume was significantly higher in the following situations: (1) patients who had a subscapularis tear compared with patients without a subscapularis tear, (2) patients who had biceps pulley lesions compared with patients without pulley lesions, and (3) patients who had both pathologies (P = .047, P = .01, and P = .002, respectively). Cyst volumes significantly decreased following RC repair in group 1 (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Among patients with small- to medium-sized, full-thickness supraspinatus tears, the prevalence of biceps pulley lesions and/or subscapularis tears is higher in patients with ScCs.