We have located links that may give you full text access.
Case Reports
Journal Article
Ultrasound changes after rotator cuff repair: is supraspinatus tendon thickness related to pain?
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery 2013 August
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the morphology of healing rotator cuffs after surgical repair. This investigation aimed to determine whether there are changes in tendon thickness, subacromial bursa, anatomical footprint, tendon vascularity, and capsular thickness after rotator cuff repair, and whether supraspinatus tendon thickness correlates with pain.
METHODS: Fifty-seven patients completed a validated pain questionnaire. Using a standardized protocol, their shoulders were scanned by the same ultrasonographer at 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postarthroscopic repair by a single surgeon. The contralateral shoulders, if uninjured, were also scanned.
RESULTS: Of 57 patients, 4 re-tore their tendons at 6 weeks and 4 retore at 3 months. Sixteen of the remaining 49 patients had intact contralateral supraspinatus tendons. The repaired supraspinatus tendon thickness remained unchanged throughout the 6 months. Compared to week 1, at 6 months, bursal thickness decreased from 1.9 (0.7) mm to 0.7 (0.5) mm (P < .001); anatomical footprint increased from 7.0 (2.0) mm to 9.3 (1.5) mm; tendon vascularity decreased from mild to none (P < .001); posterior capsule thickness decreased from 2.3 (0.8) mm to 1.3 (0.6) mm (P < .001). Frequency and severity of pain and shoulder stiffness decreased (P < .001). There was no correlation between tendon thickness and pain.
CONCLUSION: After rotator cuff repair, there was an immediate increase in subacromial bursa thickness, tendon vascularity, and posterior glenohumeral capsular thickness. These normalized after 6 months. Tendon thickness was unchanged while footprint contact was comparable with the contralateral tendons. There was no correlation between tendon thickness and pain.
METHODS: Fifty-seven patients completed a validated pain questionnaire. Using a standardized protocol, their shoulders were scanned by the same ultrasonographer at 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postarthroscopic repair by a single surgeon. The contralateral shoulders, if uninjured, were also scanned.
RESULTS: Of 57 patients, 4 re-tore their tendons at 6 weeks and 4 retore at 3 months. Sixteen of the remaining 49 patients had intact contralateral supraspinatus tendons. The repaired supraspinatus tendon thickness remained unchanged throughout the 6 months. Compared to week 1, at 6 months, bursal thickness decreased from 1.9 (0.7) mm to 0.7 (0.5) mm (P < .001); anatomical footprint increased from 7.0 (2.0) mm to 9.3 (1.5) mm; tendon vascularity decreased from mild to none (P < .001); posterior capsule thickness decreased from 2.3 (0.8) mm to 1.3 (0.6) mm (P < .001). Frequency and severity of pain and shoulder stiffness decreased (P < .001). There was no correlation between tendon thickness and pain.
CONCLUSION: After rotator cuff repair, there was an immediate increase in subacromial bursa thickness, tendon vascularity, and posterior glenohumeral capsular thickness. These normalized after 6 months. Tendon thickness was unchanged while footprint contact was comparable with the contralateral tendons. There was no correlation between tendon thickness and pain.
Full text links
Related Resources
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app