Clinical features of partial anterior bursal-sided supraspinatus tendon (PABST) lesions.
BACKGROUND
We characterized partial anterior and bursal supraspinatus tendon (PABST) lesions and compared their clinical features, postoperative functional scores, and healing rate with full-thickness rotator cuff tears (FTRCTs) and small FTRCTs.


METHODS
There were 31 PABST lesions (6.2%), 392 FTRCTs, and 32 small FTRCTs among 495 shoulders with rotator cuff disorders. The mean patient age was 52.7 years in the PABST group, 60.1 years in the FTRCT group, and 56.9 years in the small FTRCT group. Functional and clinical variables were compared between the groups, and cuff healing was evaluated with computed tomography arthrography or ultrasonography.


RESULTS
The mean patient age was statistically lower, the mean symptom duration was shorter, and trauma was more frequent in the PABST group compared with the FTRCT and small FTRCT groups. Coronal acromial spurs were found more frequently in the PABST group than in the FTRCT group. In all groups, range of motion, visual analog scale for pain, and functional scores improved continuously throughout the follow-up. There were 2 unhealed cuffs (10.5%) in the PABST group, 72 (35.6%) in the FTRCT group (P = .146), and 5 (25%) in the small FTRCT group (P = .238).


CONCLUSIONS
We characterized PABST lesions that may be overlooked because of their peculiar location in the far anterolateral insertional section of the supraspinatus tendon at the bursal side. PABST lesions usually occur in younger patients, and trauma is frequently associated with acute symptom onset. Surgical treatment was effective for pain reduction and functional improvement.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Joo Han
JH
Oh
Chung Hee
CH
Oh
Sae Hoon
SH
Kim
June Hyuk
JH
Kim
Jong Pil
JP
Yoon
Jong Hoon
JH
Jung
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002061:Bursa, Synovial / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011300:Preoperative Care; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome