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

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between four acromial shapes by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the characteristics and occurrence of rotator cuff tears (RCTs). This retrospective study included 621 patients aged 18-90 years who underwent shoulder imaging in the Turgut Ozal University, Training and Research Hospital, Department of Radiology from April 2022 to May 2022. The study reviewed a total of 621 patients, including 377 (60.7%) female, and 244 (39.3%) male patients. Of the total 621 MRI imagines of the patients, 344 (55.4%) were MRIs of the right shoulder, and 277 (44.6%) were MRIs of the left shoulder. No tears were detected in 20.7% of them, and various grades of tears were detected in 79.3% of them. Of the total, 43% had the full thickness and complete tears, and 36.3% had partial tears. A correlation was found between the RCTs and females (p<0.001). No statistically significant relationship was found for left or right shoulder (p<0.065) and acromion type and tear (p=0.465). A correlation was found between the mean acromio-humeral distance of acromion type I, II, and III (mean of three acromion types) and type IV (p<0.001). There were statistical differences between impingement and acromion hypertrophy (ACH) (p<0.001), between tear and impingement (p<0.001), and between tear and ACH (p<0.001). There was no relationship between acromial shape and gender. However, from the point of view of acromial shape, supraspinatus injury and gender were significantly related, namely; right-sided partial tear injuries are more common in females ≥50 years of age with type II acromion shape than with other RCTs.