[Scapula dyskinesis in medium size full-thickness supraspinatus muscle tears]

Scapular motion abnormality in rotator cuff tears is a well-known symptom, but its significance is not clear. Some authors consider it as a cause of rotator cuff tear, others as a consequence of the disease.

The aim of our study was to assess the changes in scapular motion in medium size full-thickness rotator cuff tear of degenerative origin compared to a healthy control group.

10 healthy (control group) and 9 subjects with a medium size (1-3 cm), complaining rotator cuff tear (study group) were included in our study, in whom we analyzed the movements of the shoulder girdle, including the scapula, during sagittal and scapular plane flexion using a VICON 3D motion capture system and U.L.E.M.A. motion analysis software. A two-sample t-test was used to test whether significant differences in scapular posterior tilting, upward rotation and protraction values were observed between the two groups for each humeral flexion angular position.

In the study group, a significant increase in scapular protraction was demonstrated in sagittal arm elevations at 40 and 50 degrees of arm elevation compared to the control group (p<0.05), whereas no significant difference in scapular upward rotation and posterior tilting was demonstrated. During scapular plane flexion, no significant difference in scapular movements was demonstrated compared to the control group.

Scapular dyskinesis is already present in cases of medium size rotator cuff tears. In scapular dyskinesis, a significant difference in protraction is first observed, which may affect scapular upward rotation and tilting as the tear continues to grow. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(31): 1213-1221.