[Seeking a New Radiological Measure to Predict Rotator Cuff Tears: Investigating the Coracoclavicular Distance in an...

Rotator cuff tears are a common disease and various radiological measurement methods are still being investigated to make the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the coracoclavicular distance is associated with rotator cuff tears.

Shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of 101 patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy due to rotator cuff tears and 158 patients with normal MRI findings were evaluated retrospectively. Coracohumeral distance, acromiohumeral distance and supraspinatus volume were measured.

When the acromiohumeral distance, coracoclavicular distance and supraspinatus volume were compared between the groups, each measurement was found to be statistically significantly lower in the tear group (Group 2) (p<0.001). In the analysis of ROC for the detection of full-thickness supraspinatus tear, the following findings were observed: if the coracoclavicular distance measured less than 12.4mm, a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 73% were determined. Similarly, if the acromiohumeral distance measured less than 7.5mm, a sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 84% were determined. In full-thickness supraspinatus tears, if the supraspinatus volume measured below 51 cm3, a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 72% were determined.

Our study, conducted on a limited population, demonstrated that coracoclavicular distance is a significant metric for detecting supraspinatus tears. We believe that we have identified a new parameter that may be useful in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears.