In vivo visualization of vascular patterns of rotator cuff tears using contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
BACKGROUND
Hypoxia and decreased blood supply have been proposed as risks for tendon rupture. Visualization of the vascularity of intact and torn rotator cuffs would be useful for improving treatments for rotator cuff tear.


OBJECTIVE
To assess vascularity inside a tendon or an adjacent rotator cuff insertion point in patients differing in age and extent of damage to the tendon.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.


METHODS
Ten volunteers (all men) and 15 patients (10 men, 5 women) consented to participate in the study. Contrast agent for enhanced ultrasound was injected intravenously. Enhanced ultrasound images of the torn cuff and the contralateral shoulder were recorded for 1 minute. Four small regions of interest, the articular and bursal sides of the tendon and the medial and lateral sides of the bursa, were studied in all shoulders.


RESULTS
There was a significant decrease in blood flow in the intratendinous region in elderly subjects compared with young subjects, but age had no effect on blood flow in bursal tissue. Blood flow in ruptured rotator cuffs did not differ from that in intact rotator cuffs. The intraclass correlation coefficient for intraobserver reproducibility was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.77-0.86).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this investigation were the hypovascular pattern in intratendinous tissue compared with the subacromial bursa, the age-related decrease in intratendinous vascularity, and the hypovascular pattern in the tendon, regardless of rupture of the tendon. Clarification of vascular patterns inside or around the torn ends of a rotator cuff will assist in the development of successful treatments for torn rotator cuffs.
Funakoshi
Tadanao
T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan. tfunakoshi@gmail.com
Iwasaki
Norimasa
N
Kamishima
Tamotsu
T
Nishida
Mutsumi
M
Ito
Yoichi
Y
Kondo
Makoto
M
Minami
Akio
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003287:Contrast Media; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003287:Contrast Media