Correlation between acromiohumeral distance and rotator cuff tear

Introduction : Rotator cuff tear is a common cause of pain affecting the shoulder. In massive rotator cuff tear the humeral head displaces superiorly, therefore causing narrowing of the subacromial space quantified as acromiohumeral distance which be measured from radiographic imaging of the shoulder plain x - ray and MRI. Objective : To determine the mean acromiohumeral distance measurement of rotator cuff tear in local population and to evaluate the correlation between acromiohumeral distance measure from plain x - ray and MRI. Methodology : This is a retrospective study conducted in a single center by reviewing the records of patients with confirmed rotator cuff tear from 2014 - 2018 with ethics approved and consented by patients. Mean value of measured acromiohumeral distance from plain x-ray (anteroposterior and Y scapula view) and MRI were calculated. The presence of rotator cuff tear, muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration were analyzed. Result : 100 patients’ plain X-Ray were recruited with mean age of 52 (±11.4). 59% of them were male. Half of the patient presented with complete tear of supraspinatus tendon, and 42% with partial tear, and another 8% with other type of rotator cuff tear. The mean acromiohumeral distance for complete tear based on x-ray measurement was 6.30mm(±0.96), while the MRI was 6.00mm(±0.88). For partial tear mean measurement for x-ray was 7.20mm(±0.51) and MRI 6.80mm(±0.54). There was positive correlation between the two factors(p=