Relationship Between Acromial Anatomy and Rotator Cuff Tears in Saudi Arabian Population

Abstract

Objectives We investigated the relationship between acromial shape, classified as Type I-IV by magnetic resonance imaging, and the occurrence and characteristics of rotator cuff tears (RCTs). Methods This retrospective cohort study included 89 patients aged 25-60 years who underwent RCT surgeries in the Orthopedic Department at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) from January 2014 to April 2019. We collected imaging findings from the KAUH record system, which were then entered into a Google form (Google, Inc., Mountain View, CA) and exported to Microsoft Excel 2016 (Microsoft ® Corp., Redmond, WA). Correlations between variables were assessed using Chi-squared tests. Results The supraspinatus muscle in both men and women was most commonly affected by RCTs, accounting for 73.6% of all tears. Subscapularis was the next most commonly injured muscle of the rotator cuff (15.1%), followed by the infraspinatus muscle (11.3%). The majority of supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and subscapularis tears (69.2%, 66.7%, and 56.3%, respectively) were associated with flat acromia. In all cases, tears in association with flat acromia were more prevalent among women (supraspinatus: 51.3% in women, 17.9% in men, p = 0.030; infraspinatus: 50% in women, 16.7% in men, p = 0.292; subscapularis: 43.8% in women, 12.5% in men, p = 0.054). Conclusions No correlation exists between acromial shape and sex, regardless of the specific muscle injured. However, supraspinatus injury, acromial shape, and sex are significantly related; right-side partial tear injuries occur more frequently among women aged ≥ 50 years with flat acromia than other RCTs.

Correlation of acromial shape and rotator cuff tears using magnetic resonance imaging

“…In terms of left or right shoulder, a statistically significant correlation was not found (p<0.065) in this study. This has been evaluated as compatible with the literature [5,15,21]. When evaluated in terms of subacromial distance, Polatet al [11] showed that there was no significant difference between male and female patients and right and left shoulders (p=0.309, p=0.454, respectively).…”

“…An association was found between RCTs and females (p<0.001). When the RCTs were evaluated, it was determined to male 182 (37%) and females 310 (67%), which differs from previous publications [5,15,21]. We think that this is because our females are more delicate as stated in the literature [7,12].…”

“…Rotator cuff tear (RCT) is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain found in the middle-aged population [5]. Although there have been many studies on the RCTs according to acromion type, there have been no large-scale studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm the tears.…”

Evaluation of anatomical variations with morphological measurements and their relationship with rotator cuff tear and acromion types

“…They also argued that changes such as bone spur within the acromion develop over time as a result of RCT rather than the cause of RCT. Unlike many studies, Almokhtar et al (16) found that a flat acromion is the most frequently seen type among all patients with RCTs.…”