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Gillinov SM, Varady NH, Abraham PF, Meek WM, Eberlin CT, Small KM, Martin SD. Supraspinatus pathology on MRI is associated with degree of weakness on dynamic clinical strength testing. Skeletal Radiol 2022; 51:1967-1974. [PMID: 35380235 DOI: 10.1007/s00256-022-04049-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze shoulder strength and function in patients presenting with possible supraspinatus pathology and to ascertain if these clinical findings are associated with severity of supraspinatus pathology on MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS In total, 171 patients with presumptive rotator cuff pathology and with preserved strength on standard rotator cuff examination were prospectively recruited. Patients were subjected to bilateral shoulder strength testing employing dynamometry; this included isometric strength testing at 90° of abduction, followed by eccentric assessment of isotonic strength from full abduction through the full range of motion until the arm rested at the patient's side. We calculated absolute strength and symptomatic-to-asymptomatic arm (S/A) strength ratios. On subsequent shoulder MRI, supraspinatus pathology was designated into one of seven categories. The association between strength measurements and MRI findings was analyzed. RESULTS Increasing lesion severity on MRI was associated with both decreasing absolute strength (no tear [59.9 N] to full-thickness tear [44.2 N]; P = 0.036) and decreasing S/A strength ratios during isotonic testing (no tear [91.9%] to full-thickness tear [65.3%]; P = 0.022). In contrast, there were no significant relationships between imaging severity and absolute strength or S/A strength ratios on isometric testing. CONCLUSION Severity of supraspinatus pathology on MRI was associated with dynamic clinical function. These results validate the clinical correlation between MRI designations of supraspinatus pathology and function and suggest the need for future work to investigate utility of dynamic (versus isometric) rotator cuff physical examination maneuvers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Gillinov
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass General Brigham, 175 Cambridge Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - Nathan H Varady
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul F Abraham
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Wendy M Meek
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass General Brigham, 175 Cambridge Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Christopher T Eberlin
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass General Brigham, 175 Cambridge Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Kirstin M Small
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott D Martin
- Sports Medicine Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass General Brigham, 175 Cambridge Street, Suite 400, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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