Ann Rehabil Med.  2018 Apr;42(2):260-269. 10.5535/arm.2018.42.2.260.

Quantitative Measurement of Muscle Atrophy and Fat Infiltration of the Supraspinatus Muscle Using Ultrasonography After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

• Kim YK
• Choi ES
• Kim KT
• Yoon JR
• Chae SH

• KMID: 2432196
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2018.42.2.260

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the utility of ultrasonography to objectively examine morphological changes (i.e., muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration) of the supraspinatus muscle.
METHODS
Thirty-four patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. The degrees of muscle atrophy and fat infiltration were measured using ultrasonography 3-4 months after arthroscopic supraspinatus tendon repair. Shoulder function (i.e., shoulder active range of motion, visual analogue scale, and constant score) was examined. Using the symmetricity of the muscles in the human body, the degrees of morphological changes of the supraspinatus muscle were quantitatively measured. The associations between the morphological changes of the supraspinatus muscle and shoulder function were identified.
RESULTS
There were statistically significant differences in the cross-sectional area (CSA) and echogenicity between the surgery and non-surgery sides (p < 0.001). The CSA ratio, which represents the degree of muscle atrophy, was associated with shoulder forward flexion, external rotation, and constant score; however, the echogenicity ratio, which represents the degree of fat infiltration, was not associated with shoulder function after surgery.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that shoulder function could be predicted by evaluating the morphological changes of the supraspinatus muscle using ultrasonography and that objective evaluation is possible through quantitative measurement using the symmetricity of the human body.

Keyword

Rotator cuff injuries; Ultrasonography; Supraspinatus; Atrophy; Muscles

MeSH Terms

Atrophy
Human Body
Humans
Muscles
Muscular Atrophy*
Prospective Studies
Range of Motion, Articular
Rotator Cuff*
Shoulder
Tendons
Ultrasonography*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Measurement location of the supraspinatus muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). The CSA was measured by placing the lateral edge of the probe on P, M, and most medial edge of scapula spine. L, most lateral edge of scapula spine; P, the center of the line connecting M with L.

• 

  Fig. 2 Ultrasonography evaluation 3 months after arthroscopic right supraspinatus muscle tendon repair. (A) Right supraspinatus muscle (cross-sectional area [CSA]=377.72 mm2, mean echogenicity=76.39). (B) Left supraspinatus muscle (CSA=479.07 mm2, mean echogenicity=63.89). Top image is the original image. Bottom image is the bordered image that was used for measurement.Supraspinatus CSA ratio (%): 377.72 (surgery side)479.07 (non-surgery side)×100=78.84. Echogenicity ratio (%): 76.39 (surgery side)63.89 (non-surgery side)×100=119.56.

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