Morphometric evaluation of the shoulder with magnetic resonance imaging in patients with rotator cuff tears

The rotator cuff muscles are anatomically and clinically significant structures susceptible to various pathologies. Among these, rotator cuff tears are particularly common and can adversely affect patients both financially and emotionally, often causing pain, reduced mobility, and decreased quality of life. Diagnosis is typically made through physical examination and radiological imaging, with accuracy being essential for effective treatment. In our study, we aimed to measure seven specific parameters believed to aid in accurate diagnosis and compare the results between patients with confirmed rotator cuff tears and those without. We retrospectively analyzed shoulder MR images of 64 patients aged 20–80 diagnosed with rotator cuff tears and 63 individuals who presented with shoulder pain but were not diagnosed with a tear. The measurements were statistically analyzed using SPSS software. We found statistically significant differences between the case and control groups in critical shoulder angle (CSA), coracohumeral distance (CHD), acromiohumeral distance (AHD), and supraspinatus tendon thickness. Although many studies have examined these parameters, they are often evaluated in isolation. Our study aimed to provide a more comprehensive reference by combining all relevant length and angle measurements with low error margins. Our results showed that these anatomical parameters significantly differed in patients with rotator cuff tears compared to controls. We believe these findings can help guide diagnosis and treatment for orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, and physiotherapists.