Glenoid axis is not related with rotator cuff tears--a magnetic resonance imaging comparative study

The relationship between glenoid version angle and rotator cuff pathology has been described. However, the effect of glenoid version angle on rotator cuff pathology is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an impact of glenoid version angle on rotator cuff pathology.

All shoulder MRI examinations performed in the study centres between August 2008 and August 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. Shoulder MRI examinations having rotator cuff pathology such as trauma, degeneration, and acromion type 2-3-4 reported in previous studies were excluded from the study. Sixty-two shoulder MRIs with rotator cuff pathology having type 1 acromion morphology and 60 shoulder exams without rotator cuff pathology were included in the study. Glenoid version angle was calculated in axial images. Rotator cuff was evaluated in fat-suppressed T2-weighted and proton density-weighted images.

The mean values for glenoid version angle were 2.41° and 0.61° in the control and the study groups, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p > 0.05). In addition, 26.6% and 33.8% of the glenoids were retroverted and 73.4% and 66.2% were anteverted in the control and the study groups, respectively (all p > 0.05).

This study demonstrated no significant relationship between glenoid version angle and rotator cuff pathology. Therefore, the pathologies that can be related to the cuff itself should be investigated if the pathology cannot be explained by an extrinsic cause in subjects with rotator cuff pathology.