MR Imaging of Rotator Cuff Injury: What the Clinician Needs to Know

Abstract

The rotator cuff muscles generate torque forces to move the humerus while acting in concord to produce balanced compressive forces to stabilize the glenohumeral joint. Thus, rotator cuff tears are often associated with loss of shoulder strength and stability, which are crucial for optimal shoulder function. The dimensions and extent of rotator cuff tears, the condition of the involved tendon, tear morphologic features, involvement of the subscapularis and infraspinatus tendons or of contiguous structures (eg, rotator interval, long head of the biceps brachii tendon, specific cuff tendons), and evidence of muscle atrophy may all have implications for rotator cuff treatment and prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging can demonstrate the extent and configuration of rotator cuff abnormalities, suggest mechanical imbalance within the cuff, and document abnormalities of the cuff muscles and adjacent structures. A thorough understanding of the anatomy and function of the rotator cuff and of the consequences of rotator cuff disorders is essential for optimal treatment planning and prognostic accuracy. Identifying the disorder, understanding the potential clinical consequences, and reporting all relevant findings at rotator cuff imaging are also essential.

Enthesopathic patterns of two South African female cadavers

“…Contrary to the correlative relationship between osteolytic changes and tendon tears established by Bianchi et al [7], Cormick [8] described the development of tendon tears to be caused by enthesopathy and subsequent loss of tendon impliability. Despite the well-defined functional-anatomic unit formed by the rotator cuff, the glenohumeral joint is subject to a great degree of pathology [16,18]. A magnetic resonance imaging study conducted by Lambert et al [13] confirmed that rotator cuff tears originate from the insertion site of the supraspinatus tendon.…”

Rotator Kılıf: Patolojik Değişiklikler

“…Bu dört tendon birbirinden ayrı fonksiyonel üniteler değildir ve bu nedenle RK'de oluşan patolojik değişiklik tek tendonu etkileyebileceği gibi, birden fazla tendonu da etkileyebilir [3]. Rotator kılıf yaralanmasında, patogenez ile ilgili değişik araştırma-lar ile yayınlar mevcuttur ve patogenezin çok faktörlü olduğu bildirilmektedir [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Klinik araştırmalarda (Codman, 1934), önceleri tendondaki yaşlanmaya bağlı dejenerasyonun kro-D nik mikrotravma ile birlikte önce tendonda kıs-mi, daha sonra da tam kat kalınlık yırtığına yol açtığını ve lezyon nedeninin intrensek olduğu-nu tanımlamıştır [8].…”

An arthroscopic evaluation of the anatomical “critical zone”

“…The rotator cuff, which functions as a composite anatomical musculo-tendinous hood, stabilizes the humeral head in the normal articulated position at the glenoid fossa during abduction and flexion [15,19,[21][22][23]. It is classically comprised of four muscles and the underlying fibrous capsule of the glenohumeral joint [21][22][23].…”