HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Spielmann, A. L. Articles by Janzen, D. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Spielmann, A. L. Articles by Janzen, D. L.

Shoulder after Rotator Cuff Repair: MR Imaging Findings in Asymptomatic Individuals-Initial Experience¹

¹ From the Departments of Radiology (A.L.S., B.B.F., D.L.J.) and Orthopedics (P.K., R.H.H.), University of British Columbia Hospital, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2B5. Received August 4, 1998; revision requested August 28; final revision received December 22; accepted July 1, 1999. Address reprint requests to B.B.F. (e-mail: formay@istar.ca).

PURPOSE: To assess the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging appearance of the successfully repaired rotator cuff in an asymptomatic population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen subjects who had undergone clinically successful rotator cuff repair were included in the study. All underwent functional testing of the affected shoulder and had good to excellent scores on the Constant scale. Standard MR imaging sequences were performed at 1.5 T, including oblique coronal fast spin-echo T2-weighted MR imaging with fat saturation.

RESULTS: Three (10%) of 30 supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons had normal signal intensity, and 16 (53%) had mildly increased signal intensity on fast spin-echo T2-weighted fat-saturated images, compatible with tendonitis or tendinosis. Three partial and four complete tears of the supraspinatus tendon and two partial and two complete tears of the infraspinatus tendon were seen. Other findings included subacromial-subdeltoid effusion (10 subjects), joint effusions (five subjects), and bone marrow edema (six subjects).

CONCLUSION: Postoperative signal intensity changes consistent with tendonitis or tendinosis were common, and clinically "silent" partial and complete rotator cuff tears were seen. Such postoperative MR imaging findings should be interpreted with caution, and meticulous correlation with symptoms and clinical results is recommended.

Index terms: Shoulder, surgery, 41.45 • Tendinitis, 414.4813 • Tendons, injuries, 414.253 • Tendons, MR, 414.121411, 414.121415

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. J. Probyn, L. M. White, D. C. Salonen, G. Tomlinson, and E. L. Boynton Recurrent Symptoms after Shoulder Instability Repair: Direct MR Arthrographic Assessment Correlation with Second-Look Surgical Evaluation Radiology, December 1, 2007; 245(3): 814 - 823. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Duc, B. Mengiardi, C. W. A. Pfirrmann, B. Jost, J. Hodler, and M. Zanetti Diagnostic Performance of MR Arthrography After Rotator Cuff Repair Am. J. Roentgenol., January 1, 2006; 186(1): 237 - 241. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Boileau, N. Brassart, D. J. Watkinson, M. Carles, A. M. Hatzidakis, and S. G. Krishnan Arthroscopic Repair of Full-Thickness Tears of the Supraspinatus: Does the Tendon Really Heal? J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., June 1, 2005; 87(6): 1229 - 1240. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Mengiardi, C. W. A. Pfirrmann, C. Gerber, J. Hodler, and M. Zanetti Frozen Shoulder: MR Arthrographic Findings Radiology, November 1, 2004; 233(2): 486 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. V. R. Mohana-Borges, C. B. Chung, and D. Resnick MR Imaging and MR Arthrography of the Postoperative Shoulder: Spectrum of Normal and Abnormal Findings RadioGraphics, January 1, 2004; 24(1): 69 - 85. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]