title: Glenoid osteophyte and rotator cuff tears: an anatomic study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the morphologic characteristics of the glenoid osteophyte and its relationship to rotator cuff tears. Eighty-six cadaveric shoulders were studied. After inspection of cuff pathology, the glenoid was examined with soft x-rays. Histologically, degenerative changes of the articular cartilage and the labrum were assessed. There were 30 shoulders with rotator cuff tears (35%). Two types of glenoid osteophyte were identified: angular and hooked. Both osteophytes were commonly observed in the anterior to inferior portions of the glenoid. The length of hooked osteophytes was significantly greater in shoulders with full-thickness tears (2.7 +/- 2.2 mm [mean plus minus SD]) than in those with other cuff conditions (P =.0058). The hooked osteophyte was more commonly observed in shoulders with full-thickness tears (43%) and associated with degenerative changes of the cartilage and labrum. We conclude that the hooked osteophyte of the glenoid is characteristic in shoulders with full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Hondo 1-1-1, Akita 010-8543, Japan.
authors.forename: Norikazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Itoi
authors.forename: Tadato
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kido
authors.forename: Akihisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Urayama
authors.forename: Kozo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000473:pathology*