Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech. 2024; 91(3):164-169 | DOI: 10.55095/achot2024/024

Evaluation of the Relationship between Acromiohumeral Distance and Supraspinatus Tendon Thickness Measured by Ultrasonography and Rotator Cuff Pathologies, Pain, and Function

B. T. DEDE1, Y. P. DOĞAN2, M. OĞUZ2, B. BULUT2, H. COŞKUN2, E. AYTEKİN2
1 Cemil Taşcioğlu City Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey
2 Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey

Purpose of the study
In this study, we aimed to evaluate acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and supraspinatus tendon (ST) thickness measurements and their relationship with pain and function in ST pathologies.
Material and Methods
The study included 111 patients and 25 healthy controls (HC). Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their diagnosis: non-tear tendinopathy (NTT), partial thickness tear (PTT), and full thickness tear (FTT). The AHD and ST thickness of the participants were measured with ultrasound. The pain and functional status of the patients were evaluated with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), The QuickDASH shortened version of the DASH Outcome Measure - Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (QDASH), and Simple Shoulder Test (SST).
Results
The AHD value was significantly higher in the NTT group (p=0.000). The AHD value was significantly lower in the FTT group (p=0.000). ST thickness value was significantly lower in the PTT group compared to the NTT group (p=0.000). There was a positive correlation between ST thickness and BMI (r=0.553,p<0.01). There was a negative correlation between ST thickness and SST and a positive correlation between ST thickness (r=-0.223,p<0.05) and QDASH (r=0.276,p<0.05).
Conclusions
We found that AHD and SST thicknesses significantly differed in the NTT, PTT, FTT, and HC groups. This difference may be important for diagnosis. In addition, the effect of obesity on ST thickness and the relationship between ST thickness and functional scores may be considered. Weight control may be effective at this point.

Keywords: acromiohumeral distance, supraspinatus tendon thickness, ultrasound.

Received: March 25, 2024; Revised: March 25, 2024; Accepted: July 13, 2024; Published: July 19, 2024  Show citation

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DEDE BT, DOĞAN YP, OĞUZ M, BULUT B, COŞKUN H, AYTEKİN E. Evaluation of the Relationship between Acromiohumeral Distance and Supraspinatus Tendon Thickness Measured by Ultrasonography and Rotator Cuff Pathologies, Pain, and Function. Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech. 2024;91(3):164-169. doi: 10.55095/achot2024/024. PubMed PMID: 38963895.
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