Xu J, Liu B, Qiao Y, Ye Z, Su W, Zhao J. Longitudinal Changes in Overall 3D Supraspinatus Muscle Volume and Intramuscular Fatty Infiltration After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.
J Bone Joint Surg Am 2024;
106:218-226. [PMID:
38113300 DOI:
10.2106/jbjs.23.00547]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
There is considerable debate regarding the longitudinal changes in overall rotator cuff (RC) muscle atrophy and intramuscular fatty infiltration (FI) following RC repair. We analyzed the longitudinal changes in overall 3D supraspinatus muscle volume and intramuscular FI (3D FI) to determine the effect of tear size and repair integrity on 3D muscle volume and intramuscular FI.
METHODS
Forty-seven patients who underwent arthroscopic RC repair and had 6-point Dixon shoulder magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) preoperatively and 3 and 12 months postoperatively were enrolled. The 3D supraspinatus muscle volume and intramuscular FI were calculated at the 3 time points, and their changes over time were evaluated in the entire cohort as well as according to tear size and repair integrity. The agreement of the difference between time points among the patients was assessed by Bland-Altman analysis.
RESULTS
In the cohort as a whole, there were no significant longitudinal changes in the 3D supraspinatus volume (19.65 ± 7.26 to 19.48 ± 7.46 cm 3 , p = 0.911) or 3D FI (17.18% ± 8.85% to 17.30% ± 9.18%, p = 0.977) from preoperatively to the final 12-month time point, overall and in the tear size and repair integrity subgroups. The 3D supraspinatus volume was significantly decreased at 3 months (17.39 ± 6.12 cm 3 , p < 0.001) but then increased again by 12 months (p < 0.001), reaching a value similar to the preoperative level. The 3D FI had a small increase at 3 months (18.18% ± 9.65%, p = 0.097) but subsequently decreased slightly again (p = 0.211), such that there were no significant longitudinal changes. The differences in the 3D supraspinatus volume and FI between these time points showed high agreement among patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The overall 3D supraspinatus volume and 3D FI showed no longitudinal change between the preoperative baseline and the 12-month follow-up after arthroscopic RC repair. Tear size and repair integrity had no impact on the longitudinal patterns of muscle volume and intramuscular FI changes. The 3D supraspinatus volume decreased during the first 3 months but recovered to baseline at 12 months postoperatively; 3D FI was relatively stable throughout the 12 months of follow-up after repair.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Therapeutic Level II . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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