Intramuscular fat infiltration evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging predicts the extensibility of the supraspinatus muscle

Hugo Giambini, Taku Hatta, Krzysztof R. Gorny, Per Widholm, Anette Karlsson, Olof D. Leinhard, Mark C. Adkins, Chunfeng Zhao, Kai Nan An

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Rotator cuff (RC) tears result in muscle atrophy and fat infiltration within the RC muscles. An estimation of muscle quality and deformation, or extensibility, is useful in selecting the most appropriate surgical procedure. We determined if noninvasive quantitative assessment of intramuscular fat using MRI could be used to predict extensibility of the supraspinatus muscle. Methods: Seventeen cadaveric shoulders were imaged to assess intramuscular fat infiltration. Extensibility and histological evaluations were then performed. Results: Quantitative fat infiltration positively correlated with histological findings and presented a positive correlation with muscle extensibility (r = 0.69; P = 0.002). Extensibility was not significantly different between shoulders graded with a higher fat content versus those with low fat when implementing qualitative methods. Discussion: A noninvasive prediction of whole-muscle extensibility may directly guide pre-operative planning to determine if the torn edge could efficiently cover the original footprint while aiding in postoperative evaluation of RC repair. Muscle Nerve 57: 129–135, 2018.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)129-135
Number of pages7
JournalMuscle and Nerve
Volume57
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2018

Keywords

  • fat infiltration
  • muscle extensibility
  • rotator cuff repair
  • rotator cuff tear
  • supraspinatus muscle
  • tendon retraction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
  • Physiology (medical)

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