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Tear Progression of Symptomatic Full-Thickness and Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears as Measured by Repeated MRI


Dongjin Kim, MD
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

myRating

Tear Progression of Symptomatic Full-Thickness and Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears as Measured by Repeated MRI

Yang-Soo Kim, MD, PhD, Prof., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Hyo-Jin Lee, MD, Prof., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF In Park, MD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Hong-Ki Jin, MD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Dong-Hyuk Sun, MD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Jin Hong Kim, MD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Sung-Ryeoll Park, MD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Dongjin Kim, MD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Jong-Ho Kim, MD, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

2017 Congress   Paper Abstract   2017 Congress   rating (1)

 

Anatomic Location

Shoulder

Diagnosis / Condition

Tears

Diagnosis Method

MRI

Summary: This study analyzed the natural course of nonoperatively-treated symptomatic full-thickness and partial-thickness rotator cuff tears and identified the risk factors affecting tear size enlargement. It turned out that full-thickness tears showed a higher enlargement rate than partial-thickness tears and full-thickness tear was the most important risk factor for tear enlargement.

Introduction

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the natural course of nonoperatively-treated symptomatic full-thickness and partial-thickness rotator cuff tears and to identify risk factors affecting tear size enlargement.

Methods

One-hundred twenty-two patients who received nonsurgical treatment for a partial or full-thickness supraspinatus tear were included in this study. All rotator cuff tears were diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and MRI was used for follow-up studies in all the patients. Follow-up MRI was performed after at least a six-month interval. We evaluated the correlation between tear size enlargement and follow-up period. Eleven risk factors were analyzed by both univariate and multivariate analyses to identify factors that affect rotator cuff tear size enlargement. The mean follow-up period was 24.4 ± 19.5 months.

Result
Thirty-four patients (27.9%) had an initial full thickness tear and eighty-eight patients (72.1%) had a partial thickness tear. Out of the entire one hundred twenty-two patients, tear size increased in fifty-one patients (41.8%), not changed in sixty-five patients (53.3%), and decreased in six patients (4.9%). Twenty-eight patients (82.4%) of full-thickness tears increased in size; while twenty-three patients (26.1%) of partial-thickness tears increased in size. Full-thickness tears showed a higher enlargement rate than partial-thickness tears in the three groups categorized with follow-up period (6~12 months, P=0.067; 12~24 months, P=0.002; over 24 months, P<0.001). Having a full-thickness tear was the most important risk factor according to logistic regression analysis for progression (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study found that 82.4% of symptomatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears increased in size, while 26.1% of symptomatic partial-thickness tears increased in size over a two-year period. Full-thickness tears showed a higher enlargement rate than partial-thickness tears regardless of a follow-up period. The univariate and multivariate analyses presented in this study suggest that having a full-thickness tear was the most reliable risk factor for tear enlargement.