title: MRI analysis of coracohumeral interval width and its relation to rotator cuff tear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coracoid impingement is an uncommon cause of the shoulder pain. It is stimulated by adduction, internal rotation and forward flexion. These positions decrease the width of the coracohumeral interval. Owing to restriction of movement, rotator cuff tendons may be overloaded. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine whether coracoid impingement increase the tendency of rotator cuff tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  Routine clinical MRI sequences of 117 shoulders were reviewed, and axial coracohumeral interval measurements were taken. Rotator cuff tendon integrity was evaluated. Relation between rotator cuff tear and coracohumeral interval width was commented statically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-nine of the patients were women, 38 of them men. The average age was 44.8 ± 14.2 (14-75). The mean age of patients with rotator cuff tear was significantly higher than patients without tear (p = 0.001). The mean value of coracohumeral interval width was 8.853 ± 2.491 mm (min: 2.9-max: 15.8). There were no significant differences between coracohumeral interval width of women and men (p = 0.139). The mean value of coracohumeral interval width with rotator cuff tear was 8.362 ± 2.382, and without tear was 9.351 ± 2.520. There was a significant differences between them (p = 0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our study, there was a relationship between coracohumeral interval width and rotator cuff tear, so decreasing coracohumeral interval width may increase tendency of rotator cuff tear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Caddesi, Yenimahalle, Ankara, Turkey, elifaktasmd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.forename: Burcu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.forename: Nazan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ciledag
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buyukcam
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tokgoz
authors.forename: Emrah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caglar
authors.forename: Bilgin Kadri
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Aribas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult