EVALUATING THE ROLE OF SCAPULA MORPHOLOGY IN ROTATOR CUFF TEARS: WHICH IS THE MOST USEFUL PREDICTOR?

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between glenoid inclination (GI), acromial index (AI), critical shoulder angle (CSA), superior inclination (SI), and symptomatic degenerative full-thickness supraspinatus tears (SSTs). Materials and Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with SSTs (n=39) between 2015 and 2017 were assessed retrospectively. Controls were matched to age, gender, and side. Measured GI, AI, CSA, and SI values were compared between the SSTs and control groups (n=39). The mean age for the SSTs group was 52.74±5.49 years, and the mean age for the control group was 51.15±5.22 years. Results: The mean GI for the SSTs group was 19.97°±5.62°, and it was 13.72°±6.55° for the control group (p<0.001). The mean AI was 0.7±0.08 and 0.67±0.07 in the SSTs and control groups, respectively (p=0.035). The mean CSA for the SSTs group was 35.05°±4.09° and it was 33.06°±3.42° for the control group (p=0.022). The mean SI was 25.13°±5.71° and 25.91°±5.81° in the SSTs and control groups, respectively (p=0.552). For a cut-off value of GI ≥17.35°, sensitivity was 79.54%, and specificity was 79.51% (p=0.001). For a cut-off value of AI ≥0.67, sensitivity was 61.54% and specificity was 56.4% (p=0.031). For a cut-off value of CSA ≥33.45°, sensitivity was 64.12%, and specificity was 64.54% (p=0.014). Conclusion: Higher measurement values of glenoid inclination, acromial index, and critical shoulder angle were associated with symptomatic degenerative full-thickness supraspinatus tears, and no correlation was found with superior inclination measurement. The glenoid inclination measurement had the highest sensitivity and specificity in predicting symptomatic degenerative full-thickness supraspinatus tears.