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Magnetic resonance imaging of deltoid muscle/tendon tears: a descriptive study

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A Correction to this article was published on 03 April 2021

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Abstract

Objective

To describe the MRI features of deltoid tears and to evaluate tear characteristics in patient groups based on history of trauma and rotator cuff tear (RCT).

Materials and methods

The records of patients who underwent shoulder MRI at our institution between July 2007 and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed to identify deltoid tears, and patients were divided into groups based on history of recent trauma and presence of RCT. Images were reviewed to identify the location and size of the deltoid tear; the presence or absence of RCT, muscle atrophy, tendon retraction, humeral head subluxation, soft tissue edema, and additional pathologies were also noted. Medical records were reviewed for information about history of steroid injection, previous rotator cuff surgery, and treatments used.

Results

Among 69 patients with deltoid tears (45 men; mean age, 65.2 years; range, 19–89 years), patients with RCTs and no trauma had the highest frequency of deltoid tears in the middle portion (p = 0.005). Only patients with RCTs had undergone steroid injection or rotator cuff surgery. Two patients had deltoid tear without RCT and without recent trauma; these patients demonstrated evidence of calcific tendinopathy and chronic subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis.

Conclusion

The middle (acromial) portion of the deltoid is more frequently affected in patients with RCTs than in those with trauma. Although deltoid tears are commonly associated with RCT, calcific tendinopathy and chronic bursitis may also be seen in patients with deltoid tears.

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Acknowledgments

We thank our scientific medical writer Megan Griffiths, ELS, for her help with editing this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Ceylan Colak, Michael Forney & Hakan Ilaslan

  2. Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Jennifer A. Bullen

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Vahid Entezari

Authors
  1. Ceylan Colak
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  2. Jennifer A. Bullen
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  3. Vahid Entezari
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  4. Michael Forney
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  5. Hakan Ilaslan
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Correspondence to Ceylan Colak.

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Approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, with a waiver of informed consent.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The ​original ​version ​of ​this ​article ​was ​revised due to the incorrect family name of Vahid Entezari.

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Colak, C., Bullen, J.A., Entezari, V. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of deltoid muscle/tendon tears: a descriptive study. Skeletal Radiol 50, 1995–2003 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-021-03727-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-021-03727-6

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