Evaluating postoperative rotator cuff healing: Prospective comparison of MRI and ultrasound.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this prospective comparative single centre study was to compare postoperative rotator cuff healing rates as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus ultrasonography (US).


METHODS
Between October 2012 and February 2013, 61 patients underwent arthroscopic repair of postero-superior rotator cuff tears. Each patient underwent MRI and US 6 months later. The findings were assessed independently by two observers. We compared intra-observer and inter-observer levels of agreement regarding healing rates assessed by MRI and US.


RESULTS
Intra-observer agreement regarding the MRI interpretation was 95% (κ coefficient, 0.83) for one observer and 98% (κ coefficient, 0.94) for the other. Values of κ for inter-observer agreement ranged across readings from 0.76 to 0.90. When MRI was taken as the reference, US had 80% sensitivity and 98% specificity.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI and US provide similar assessments of postoperative rotator cuff healing, although US is less sensitive. Intra-observer and inter-observer agreements are very good.
Centre Hospitalier Privé Saint-Grégoire, boulevard Boutière 6, 35768 Saint-Grégoire cedex, France. Electronic address: collin.ph@wanadoo.fr.
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Collin
Centre Hospitalier Privé Saint-Grégoire, boulevard Boutière 6, 35768 Saint-Grégoire cedex, France; Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Nagoya, Japan.
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Yoshida
Service de kinésithérapie, Unité de Réadaptation Fonctionnelle en Milieu Professionnel Le Patis Fraux, 35770 Vern-sur-Seiche, France.
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Delarue
Centre Hospitalier Privé Saint-Grégoire, boulevard Boutière 6, 35768 Saint-Grégoire cedex, France.
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Lucas
Centre Hospitalier Privé Saint-Grégoire, boulevard Boutière 6, 35768 Saint-Grégoire cedex, France.
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Jossaume
Service de chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologie de l'appareil moteur, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland; Faculté de médecine, Université de Genève, rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland; Service de chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologie de l'appareil moteur, Hôpital de La Tour, rue J.-D.-Maillard 3, 1217 Meyrin, Switzerland.
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Lädermann
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012421:Rupture; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Radiological outcomes; Re-rupture; Rotator cuff repair; Tendon healing; Ultrasonography