title: Assessment of rotator cuff repair integrity using ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in a multicenter study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study compared ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation of the repaired rotator cuff to determine concordance between these imaging studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a concordance study using the data from a prospective nonrandomized multicenter study at 13 centers. A suture bridge technique was used to repair 113 rotator cuff tears that were between 1 and 4 cm wide. Repairs were evaluated with MRI and ultrasound at multiple time points after surgery. The MRI scans were read by a central radiologist and the surgeon, and the ultrasounds were read by a local radiologist or the surgeon who performed the ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concordance between the central radiologist's MRI reading and the investigator's MRI readings at all time points was 89%, with a κ coefficient of 0.60. The concordance between the central radiologist's MRI and ultrasound readings at all time points was 85%, with a κ coefficient of 0.40. The concordance between the investigator's MRI and ultrasound readings was 92%, with a κ coefficient of 0.70.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the community setting, ultrasound may be used to evaluate the integrity of a repaired rotator cuff tendon and constitutes a comparable alternative to MRI when evaluating the integrity of a rotator cuff repair. Clinical investigators should compare their postoperative ultrasound results with their postoperative MRI results for a certain time period to establish the accuracy of ultrasound before relying solely on ultrasound imaging to evaluate the integrity of their rotator cuff repairs.
authors.affiliation: The Everett Clinic, Everett, WA, USA. Electronic address: mikecodsi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Codsi
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rodeo
authors.affiliation: The CORE Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Jason J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Scalise
authors.affiliation: inVentiv Health Clinical, contracted to Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Tara McDonnell
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Moorehead
authors.affiliation: University of California San Francisco, Orthopedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: C Benjamin
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: MRI; Rotator cuff repair; arthroscopy; surgery; ultrasound