Clin Should Elbow.  2019 Sep;22(3):139-145. 10.5397/cise.2019.22.3.139.

Relationship of the Shape of Subacromial Spur and Rotator Cuff Partial Thickness Tear

• Kim YK
• Jung KH
• Kang SW
• Hong JH
• Choi KY
• Choi JU

• KMID: 2457210
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5397/cise.2019.22.3.139

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between location of the rotator cuff tear and shape of the subacromial spur.
METHODS
Totally, 80 consecutive patients who underwent arthroscopic repair for partial thickness rotator cuff tear were enrolled for the study. Bigliani's type of the acromion, type of subacromial spur, and location of partial thickness tear of the rotator cuff were evaluated using plain X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging. We then compared the groups of no spur with spur, and heel with traction spur.
RESULTS
Of the 80 cases, 25 cases comprised the no spur group, and 55 cases comprised the spur group. There was a significant difference in type of tear (p=0.0004) between these two groups. Bursal side tears were significantly greater (odds ratio=6.000, p=0.0007) in the spur group. Subjects belonging to the spur group were further divided into heel (38 cases) and traction spur (17 cases). Comparing these two groups revealed significant differences only in the type of tear (p=0.0001). Furthermore, the heel spur had significantly greater bursal side tear (odds ratio=29.521, p=0.0005) as compared to traction spur.
CONCLUSIONS
The heel spur is more associated to bursal side tear than the traction spur, whereas the traction spur associates greater to the articular side tear.

Keyword

Rotator cuff tears; Bone spur; Heel spur; Traction spur

MeSH Terms

Acromion
Heel
Heel Spur
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Osteophyte
Rotator Cuff*
Tears*
Traction