Published in:
01-02-2015 | Original Paper
Full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears: correlation of findings by arthroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors:
Eduardo Angeli Malavolta, Jorge Henrique Assunção, Alex Oliveira de Araujo, Carlos Augusto Seito, Mauro Emilio Conforto Gracitelli, Marcelo Bordalo-Rodrigues, Arnaldo Amado Ferreira Neto
Published in:
International Orthopaedics
|
Issue 2/2015
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Abstract
Purpose
The main aim of this study was to correlate measurements of the width and retraction of isolated full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tears determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with measurements recorded by arthroscopy using a continuous millimetre scale.
Methods
A total of 53 individuals with isolated supraspinatus tears and retraction < 30 mm underwent arthroscopy at our centre. Tear width and retraction measured by arthroscopy (reference standard) and MRI (index test) on a continuous millimetre scale were compared. All measurements were performed by a single radiologist blinded to intra-operative findings and one surgeon who had previous access to MRI results.
Results
The average tear retraction was 12.60 ± 4.89 mm by arthroscopy and 16.81 ± 6.29 mm by MRI. Those measures exhibited moderate correlation (r = 0.643, p < 0.001) and an average difference of 4.21 mm (p < 0.001). Average tear width was 12.87 ± 4.15 mm by arthroscopy and 14.19 ± 5.20 by MRI. Those measures exhibited moderate correlation (r = 0.526, p < 0.001) and an average difference of 1.32 mm, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.109).
Conclusion
Measures of retraction and width obtained by MRI and arthroscopy exhibited moderate correlation in small- or medium-sized supraspinatus tears.