PREDICTION OF ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR RESULTS BY MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING

Thirty chronic rotator cuff tears were repaired consecutively and eval uated prospectively using a precise anatomic description of the tear t hat included the rotator interval, the Constant functional score, and an assessment of the tendon state and the atrophy of the supraspinatus muscle by preoperative and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Early correlations (mean followup, 21.1 months) attempted to define pr edictive factors of the final outcome of the repair, physical factors indicative of final tendon state, and postoperative evolution of supra spinatus atrophy. Magnetic resonance imaging oblique sagittal views sh owed that supraspinatus atrophy correlated with the sagittal and coron al extent of the tear and represented a strong predictive factor of po stoperative retearing. At followup, 15 (50%) cuffs were continuous and thick, seven (23%) were continuous but thin, and six (20%) were retor n. Two (7%) cuffs had been repaired only partly. In the group with a p ersistent tear, flexion strength and differential Constant score were correlated with the final tendon state with no excellent or good resul ts, and with less than 4 kg of strength. Supraspinatus atrophy improve d in 18 of the 22 postoperative continuous cuffs, but never decreased in persistent tears, although there was pain relief and functional gai n.