Severe shoulder pain: calcifying tendinitis of the subscapularis tendon

Background: Subcoracoid impingement has been implicated as a cause of anterior shoulder pain and subscapularis tendon tears. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bony anatomy of the coracoid process and the subcoracoid space. We hypothesized that age-related changes that may contribute to subcoracoid impingement occur in the subcoracoid space. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: In total, 418 skeletal shoulder specimens were included in this study. We utilized 214 shoulders from a young cohort (25-35 years of age) and 204 shoulders from an older cohort (>55 years of age) for comparison. We evaluated several morphological characteristics of the coracoid process and the subcoracoid space: coracoid width, coracoid shape, coracoid thickness, and subcoracoid distance. Each coracoid was observed for the presence of spurring or other morphological changes. Results: The mean anteroposterior (AP) thickness of the coracoid tip was 7.9 and 9.4 mm in our young female and male cohorts, respectively, while the mean AP thickness was 8.1 and 9.7 mm in our older female and male cohorts, respectively. The coracoid tip was hooked in 31 of 108 young female shoulders compared with 55 of 102 older female shoulders, and the coracoid tip was hooked in 25 of 106 young male shoulders compared with 45 of 102 older male shoulders. The mean subcoracoid distance in neutral rotation was 14.8 and 12.5 mm in young and older female shoulders, respectively, while the mean subcoracoid distance in internal rotation in these same cohorts was 8.7 and 7.0 mm, respectively. The mean subcoracoid distance in neutral rotation was 14.8 and 13.3 mm in young and older male shoulders, respectively, while the mean subcoracoid distance in internal rotation was 8.6 and 8.1 mm in young and older male shoulders, respectively. Conclusion: The principal findings of our study demonstrate that anatomic changes implicated in subcoracoid impingement may be developmental and worsen with age. The subcoracoid space was narrower in our older cohort of shoulders. Additionally, these older shoulders also had a greater AP width and a more hooked coracoid compared with young shoulders. Clinical Relevance: Narrowing of the subcoracoid space has been shown to be implicated as a cause of anterior shoulder pain and subscapularis tendon tears. This is the first study to show that the morphological changes implicated in subcoracoid impingement become more prevalent with age. This may help to explain the increasing prevalence of subscapularis tendon tears in older patients. Furthermore, subcoracoid decompression may be seen as an option for older patients with anterior shoulder pain and subscapularis tendon tears.

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Prediction of the anterior shoulder pain source by detecting indirect signs for partial articular subscapularis tendon tears through conventional magnetic resonance imaging

Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy ◽

10.1007/s00167-020-06259-z ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ji Ho Lee ◽

In Hyeok Rhyou ◽

Kee Baek Ahn

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Shoulder Pain ◽

Subscapularis Tendon ◽

Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Conventional Magnetic Resonance ◽

Tendon Tears ◽

Anterior Shoulder Pain

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The “bridging sign”: A MR finding for combined full-thickness tears of the subscapularis tendon and the supraspinatus tendon

Acta Radiologica ◽

10.1258/ar.2012.120353 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 83-88 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jin Young Jung ◽

Young Cheol Yoon ◽

Dong Ik Cha ◽

Jae-Chul Yoo ◽

Jee Young Jung

Keyword(s):

Rotator Cuff ◽

Shoulder Pain ◽

Rotator Cuff Tear ◽

Supraspinatus Tendon ◽

Subscapularis Tendon ◽

Full Thickness ◽

Tendon Tear ◽

Anterior Portion ◽

Cuff Tear ◽

Sensitivity Specificity

Background In daily practice, we discovered one of the secondary magnetic resonance (MR) findings of the subscapularis (SSC) tendon tear, the “bridging sign”, which has not been previously described. Purpose To describe the “bridging sign” on shoulder MR imaging and its radiological and clinical significance in patients with SSC tendon tear. Material and Methods Twenty-nine patients who had undergone shoulder arthroscopy and had full-thickness tear of the subscapularis tendon were enrolled. The medical records of the 29 patients were retrospectively reviewed for the duration of shoulder pain, rotator cuff tears, and associated arthroscopic findings: biceps tendon abnormality and superior glenoid labral tear. Then, preoperative shoulder MR images were retrospectively reviewed for the presence or absence of the “bridging sign” and associated MR findings: periarticular fluid and fatty atrophy of the supraspinatus and subscapularis muscles. The type of rotator cuff tear associated with the “bridging sign” was assessed and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the “bridging sign” for the diagnosis of a certain type of rotator cuff tear were calculated. Associated arthroscopic and MR findings and mean duration of the shoulder pain between the patients with and without the “bridging sign” were compared. Results The “bridging sign” was seen in 17 of 29 patients and corresponded to a complex of the torn and superomedially retracted subscapularis tendon, coracohumeral ligament, and superior glenohumeral ligament, adhered to the anterior margin of the torn supraspinatus (SSP) tendon on arthroscopy. All patients with the “bridging sign” had combined full-thickness tear (FTT) of the cranial 1/2 portion of the subscapularis tendon and anterior 1/2 portion of the SSP tendon. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the “bridging sign” for the diagnosis of combined FTTs of the SSC tendon and anterior portion of the SSP tendon were 81.0%, 100%, and 86.2%, respectively. The patients with the “bridging sign” had longer duration of shoulder pain and more frequent associated arthroscopic and MR findings than the patients without the “bridging sign”. Conclusion The “bridging sign” is a highly specific finding for combined full-thickness tears of the subscapularis tendon and anterior portion of the supraspinatus tendon, associated with more chronic shoulder pain and more sever rotator cuff tear.

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