Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica
Research Article

The effect of sagittal orientation of the acromion relative to the scapular spine on the location of rotator cuff tears

1.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey

2.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Göztepe Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul Medeniyet University, İstanbul, Turkey

3.

Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Suşehri Hospital, Sivas, Turkey

4.

Department of Radiology, Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey

5.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Bezmialem Foundation University, School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey

AOTT 2022; 56: 116-119
DOI: 10.5152/j.aott.2022.21127
Read: 1345 Downloads: 401 Published: 01 March 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the angle between the scapular spine and acromion in the sagittal plane on the location of chronic rotator cuff tears (RCTs).

Methods: The magnetic resonance images of patients who had undergone an arthroscopic shoulder surgery were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups: patients who had undergone RCT repair and those who had experienced different shoulder surgery as a control group. The RCT group (study group) was then subgrouped in terms of the location of the tear as posterior-superior RCT type 3, 4, 5 or combination (group A) and anterior-superior RCT type 1,2,3 or combination using the Patte sagittal classification (group B). A novel angle, scapular spine-acromion angle (SSAA), was described in the sagittal plane and compared between the groups and subgroups.

Results: A total of 96 patients underwent an arthroscopic RCT repair with a mean age of 59.5 years (range, 36-65 years), and the control group was composed of 40 patients with a mean age of 52.5 (range, 41-63 years). Comparison the group B (mean value: 73.41°±5.98°, median: 73,8°, range: 60.6°-89.7°) has significantly higher degrees of SSAA than group A (mean value: 63.92°±6.82°, median: 64,8°, range: 52.3°-77.9°) (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a higher incidence of posterior- superior RCTs in patients with lower SSAA and anterior-superior RCTs in patients with higher SSAA in the sagittal plane compared to the control group. So sagittal acromial orientation might influence the RCT location.

Level of Evidence: Level III, Diagnostic Study

Cite this article as: Altun G, Türkmen İ, Kara D, Çelik H, Sanem Dereli Bulut S, Bilsel K. The effect of sagittal orientation of the acromion relative to the scapular spine on the location of rotator cuff tears. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc. 2022;56(2):116-119.

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ISSN 1017-995X EISSN 2589-1294