MR imaging of rotator cuff impingement: correlation with full-thickness rotator cuff tear.

BACKGROUND

Rotator cuff tears usually derive from shoulder impingement, and need surgical treatment. This study is to verify the Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) findings of rotator cuff impingement which are related to full-thickness rotate cuff tear (FTRCT).

METHODS

Totally 68 patients with shoulder impingement syndrome were studied, including 39 shoulders with surgically-proven FTRCT, and 29 shoulders without FTRCT. MRI findings of shoulder impingement were evaluated for peribursal fat plane, subacromial distance, acromion shape, subacromioclavicular space, irregularity of coracoacromial ligament and presence of subacromial spurs. The correlation with FTRCT was also determined.

RESULTS

Peribursal fat plane obliteration (p = 0.0001), hook-shaped acromion (p = 0.0148), subacromioclavicular indentation (p = 0.0004), and decreased subacromial distance (p = 0.0005) showed significant correlation with FTRCT; however, subacromial spurs (p = 0.6238) and thickened irregular coracoacromial ligament (p = 0.1611) showed poor correlation.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific MRI findings of rotator cuff impingement are fairly reliable and helpful for discrimination of FTRCT from non-FTRCT cases, and can be used preoperatively and noninvasively to determine the necessity of surgical repair of rotator cuff.