Korean J Radiol.  2012 Feb;13(1):98-101. 10.3348/kjr.2012.13.1.98.

Occult Interpositional Rotator Cuff - an Extremely Rare Case of Traumatic Rotator Cuff Tear

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Orthopaedics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
  • 2Department of Orthopaedics, Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.
  • 3Department of Orthopaedics, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan. 01666@cych.org.tw

Abstract

Traumatic interposition of a rotator cuff tendon in the glenohumeral joint without recognizable glenohumeral dislocation is an unusual complication after shoulder trauma. Here we report the clinical and imaging presentations of a 17-year-old man with trapped rotator cuff tendons in the glenohumeral joint after a bicycle accident. The possible trauma mechanism is also discussed.

Keyword

Traumatic rotator cuff tear; Joint interposition; Posttraumatic subluxation; Shoulder dislocation

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Bicycling/*injuries
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods
Male
Range of Motion, Articular/physiology
Rotator Cuff/*injuries
Shoulder Dislocation/*diagnosis/etiology/rehabilitation

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Rotator cuff tendon interposition. A. Right shoulder X-ray reveals widened joint space and narrow subacromial space. B, C. MRI of right shoulder. Coronal, T2-weighted, fatsaturated sequence (TR 2000, TE 100) (B) shows supraspinatus defect and it is interposing in glenohumeral joint (asterisk). Parts of torn infraspinatus tendon (open arrow) were interposed into axillary pouch. Axial, T2-weighted, fat-saturated sequence (TR 2000, TE 100) (C) shows infraspinatus defect and soft tissues obliterating glenohumeral joint (double asterisk) and dislocated biceps long head tendon (solid arrow). D. Drawing demonstrating trauma mechanism. E, F. MRI of right shoulder. Coronal, T2-weighted, fat-saturated sequence (TR 2000, TE 100) shows bone edema over anterior part of humeral head (arrow in E) and acromion (arrowhead in F) after shoulder contusion during injury. HH = humeral head, ISP = infraspinatus tendon, SSP = supraspinatus tendon


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