title: Abductor tendon tears are associated with hypertrophy of the tensor fasciae latae muscle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between hypertrophy of the tensor fasciae latae muscle and abductor tendon tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients who underwent MRI of the abductor tendons of the hip were included in this retrospective study. A subgroup of 18 patients was examined bilaterally. The area of the tensor fasciae latae muscle and the area of the sartorius muscle (size reference) were quantified at the level of the femoral head, and a ratio was calculated. Two radiologists assessed the integrity of the gluteus medius and minimus tendon in consensus. Data were analyzed with a Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen out of 35 patients (46 %) had a tear of the gluteus medius or minimus tendon. The ratio of the area of the tensor fasciae latae to the sartorius muscle was significantly higher (p = .028) in the group with an abductor tendon tear (median 2.25; Interquartile Range [IQR] = 1.97-3.21) compared to the group without any tears (median 1.91; IQR = 1.52-2.26). The bilateral subanalysis showed that in patients without a tear, the ratio of the two areas did not differ between each side (p = .966), with a median of 1.54 (primary side) and 1.76 (contralateral side). In patients with an abductor tendon tear the ratio was significantly higher (p = .031) on the side with a tear (median 2.81) compared to the contralateral healthy side (1.67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with abductor tendon tears showed hypertrophy of the tensor fasciae latae muscle when compared to the contralateral healthy side and to patients without a tear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Orthopedic University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland. Reto.Sutter@balgrist.ch
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutter
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kalberer
authors.forename: Christoph A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Binkert
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Christian W A
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Pfirrmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gutzeit
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005206:Fascia Lata / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*