Asymptomatic Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy in Elderly Diabetics: Is Routine Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of the...

The occurrence of rotator cuff tendinopathy, which is invariably symptomatic, increases as populations age, being largely observed among patients with diabetes. The objective of the present study is to find out the occurrence of rotator cuff tendinopathy in elderly diabetic patients who were asymptomatic, composed of healthy individuals and those with diabetes mellitus.

The participants in this study included 87 elderly diabetic patients and 56 controls (mean age: 69.3±4.9 and 71.8±3.6, respectively), who were asymptomatic from shoulder. All patients underwent shoulder MRI examination using 1.5 tesla MRI.

We recorded greater tendons thickness in the diabetic patients as compared with the controls (supraspinatus tendon: 6.6±0.7mm vs 5.3±0.8mm, p<0.001; biceps tendon: 3.9±0.7mm vs 3.1±0.8mm, p<0.002). Moreover, higher incidence of supraspinatus tendon tear was noted in diabetics as compared to biceps tendon (major tears: 32 (36.7%) vs 6 (10.7%), p=0.052; minor tears: 51 (58.6%) vs 11 (19.6%), p=0.032).

The present study suggests that age-related rotator cuff tendinopathy is more prevalent among patients with diabetes. Therefore, MRI is an investigation of choice for early detection i.e., at pre-symptomatic stages of rotator cuff tendinopathy, as the patients may develop symptoms later.