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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Ultrasound | Research article

Correlation between acromiohumeral distance and the severity of supraspinatus tendon tear by ultrasound imaging in a Chinese population

Authors: Mingmin Xu, Zhenping Li, Youfa Zhou, Bin Ji, Suming Tian, Gang Chen

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was twofold: (i) to investigate the intrarater reliability of acromiohumeral distance measurement; (ii) to assess the level of association between acromiohumeral distance measured by ultrasonography, and the degree of supraspinatus tendon tear, in patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain.

Methods

A cross-sectional, case-control study was carried out. A convenience sample comprising 59 patients with a unilateral supraspinatus tendon tear was assessed. Both shoulders of each patient were scanned by ultrasound, with the contralateral asymptomatic shoulders serving as the control group for comparison. Acromiohumeral distances of each shoulder were measured and analysed.

Results

Intrarater reliability was excellent for the ultrasound method of acromiohumeral distance measurement. The acromiohumeral distance of shoulders with full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear was significantly smaller than that of joints with partial-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear and an intact supraspinatus tendon. There was a significant positive correlation between reduced acromiohumeral distance and the severity of a supraspinatus tendon tear.

Conclusions

Ultrasound is a reliable tool to measure acromiohumeral distance. A positive relationship was found between a narrowed acromiohumeral distance and the severity grading of a supraspinatus tendon tear. Reduced acromiohumeral distance can be considered a predictive parameter for a full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear.

Trial registration

The study was prospectively registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Registration number: ChiCTR-ROC-17013550. Date of registry: 26 November 2017.
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Metadata
Title
Correlation between acromiohumeral distance and the severity of supraspinatus tendon tear by ultrasound imaging in a Chinese population
Authors
Mingmin Xu
Zhenping Li
Youfa Zhou
Bin Ji
Suming Tian
Gang Chen
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-3109-8

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