Distance between the supraspinatus and long head of the biceps tendon on sagittal MRI: a new tool to identify anterior supraspinatus insertion injury

Lifeng Yin; Hua Zhang; Yangang Kong; Xinyu Zhang; Wenlong Yan; Jian Zhang

doi:10.1186/s40634-021-00410-6

Distance between the supraspinatus and long head of the biceps tendon on sagittal MRI: a new tool to identify anterior supraspinatus insertion injury

J Exp Orthop. 2021 Nov 25;8(1):108. doi: 10.1186/s40634-021-00410-6.

Authors

Lifeng Yin¹, Hua Zhang¹, Yangang Kong¹, Xinyu Zhang¹, Wenlong Yan¹, Jian Zhang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, NO.1 Youyi Road, Chongqing, 400016, Yuzhong District, China.
² Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, NO.1 Youyi Road, Chongqing, 400016, Yuzhong District, China. zhangjian@hospital.cqmu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Purpose: Anterior insertion of the supraspinatus muscle plays an essential role in rotator cuff tissue. We aimed to determine whether the distance between the midpoints of the supraspinatus central tendon and long head of the biceps tendon on a sagittal shoulder magnetic resonance imaging scan can help to preoperatively diagnose an injury of the anterior insertion of the supraspinatus.

Method: This retrospective study reviewed 103 patients with a full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear: 50 patients with (injured group) and 53 patients without (intact group) anterior supraspinatus insertion tear. The inter-tendon distance was measured based on an oblique sagittal magnetic resonance imaging scan. SPSS was used for statistical analyses. Two independent samples t-test and receiver operating curve analysis were also performed.

Results: The measurements of inter-tendon distance revealed good intra- and inter-observer reliabilities with intra-class correlation coefficients of 0.92 and 0.97, respectively. The inter-tendon distance of the injured group was significantly greater than that of the intact group (10.1 ± 2.7 vs 8.0 ± 2.3 mm, P < 0.001). The diagnostic ability of the inter-tendon distance was fair (area under the curve = 0.745), and a threshold of 9 mm had a specificity of 73% and sensitivity of 74%.

Conclusion: The distance between the supraspinatus central tendon and long head of the biceps tendon on magnetic resonance imaging was greater in patients with anterior supraspinatus insertion injury than those without the injury. A distance of 9 mm may be the cut-off value and a good diagnosis marker for anterior supraspinatus insertion injury.

Level of evidence: Level III, diagnostic case-control study.

Keywords: Anterior supraspinatus insertion; Long head of the bicep tendons; Magnetic resonance imaging; Rotator cuff tear; Supraspinatus central tendon.