The Acromial Index, but Not the Critical Shoulder Angle, Affects Functional and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with...

Background/Objective: This study aimed to compare functional and clinical outcomes in terms of shoulder muscle performance and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between patients with rotator cuff muscle tears (RCTs) with high preoperative critical shoulder angle (CSA) or acromial index (AI) and those with low preoperative CSA or AI and to determine the outcomes associated with CSA and AI. Methods: Ninety patients with RCTs were recruited [45 with high preoperative CSA (>35°) vs. 45 with low preoperative CSA (<35°), and 42 with high preoperative AI (>0.75) vs. 48 with low preoperative AI (<0.75)]. Functional outcomes, such as muscle strength and endurance of the internal rotators, external rotators, and forward flexors, were measured for shoulder muscle performance using an isokinetic device. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using PROs, such as the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Constant scores. Results: Patients with RCTs with high preoperative CSA had decreased muscle endurance of the external rotators (p = 0.030) in the involved shoulders compared to patients with RCTs with low preoperative CSA. Patients with RCTs with high preoperative AI had decreased muscle endurance of the external rotators (p = 0.010) and UCLA scores (p = 0.010) in the involved shoulders compared with patients with RCTs with low preoperative AI. Preoperative AI was closely associated with muscle endurance for external rotators (β = -17.204) and the UCLA score (β = -3.269). Conclusions: Patients with RCTs with high preoperative CSA or AI may have lower shoulder muscle endurance than those with low preoperative CSA or AI, especially for external rotators. Furthermore, preoperative AI was independently associated with external rotator muscle endurance and the UCLA score. Therefore, assessment of preoperative CSA or AI may be important for pre- or postoperative management in patients with RCTs, as AI is associated with functional and clinical outcomes.