Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Re-examining the association of os acromiale with supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears

  • Scientific Article
  • Published:
Skeletal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To re-evaluate the relationship between os acromiale and rotator cuff tears.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 84 magnetic resonance imaging studies of the shoulder. Forty-two subjects with os acromiale (n = 42; 32 men and ten women, age 25–81 years, mean 47.6 years) were compared with age- and gender-matched subjects with no evidence of os acromiale (controls). Arthroscopy data were available in 19 os acromiale and 12 control subjects. Statistical analyses were performed to determine differences between groups regarding rotator cuff tears affecting the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons detected by magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopy. Analysis of os acromiale type, ossicle synchondrosis edema, acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes and step-off deformity at the synchondrosis were tabulated.

Results

No statistically significant difference between the os acromiale and control groups was noted, either on magnetic resonance imaging or arthroscopy, with regard to tears of the supraspinatus (P = 1.000 and 0.981, respectively) and infraspinatus (P = 1.000 and 0.667, respectively) tendons. There was a statistically significant increased number of supraspinatus (P = 0.007) and infraspinatus (P = 0.03) tears in a comparison of subjects with os acromiale and step-off deformity (10/42) vs os acromiale without step-off deformity (32/42).

Conclusion

The presence of os acromiale may not significantly predispose to supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendon tears. However, subjects with step-off deformity of an os acromiale are at greater risk of rotator cuff tears than are similar subjects without such deformity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sammarco VJ. Os acromiale: frequency, anatomy, and clinical implications. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2000; 82: 394–400.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Park JG, Lee JK, Phelps CT. Os acromiale associated with rotator cuff impingement: MR imaging of the shoulder. Radiology 1994; 193: 255–257.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fery A, Sommelet J. Os acromiale: significance-diagnosis-pathology. Apropos of 28 cases including 2 with fracture separation. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot 1988; 74: 160–172.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Grasso A. The incidence and role of the os acromiale in the acromiohumeral impingement syndrome. Radiol Med (Torino) 1992; 84: 567–570.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hutchinson MR, Veenstra MA. Arthroscopic decompression of shoulder impingement secondary to os acromiale. Arthroscopy 1993; 9: 28–32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Mudge MK, Wood VE, Frykman GK. Rotator cuff tears associated with os acromiale. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1984; 66: 427–429.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Nicholson GP, Goodman DA, Flatow EL, Bigliani LU. The acromion: morphologic condition and age-related changes. A study of 420 scapulas. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1996; 5: 1–11.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Swain RA, Wilson FD, Harsha DM. The os acromiale: another cause of impingement. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1996; 28: 1459–1462.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Warner JJ, Beim GM, Higgins L. The treatment of symptomatic os acromiale. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1998; 80: 1320–1326.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Barbiera F, Bellissima G, Iovane A, De Maria M. OS acromiale producing rotator cuff impingement and rupture. A case report. Radiol Med (Torino). 2002; 104: 359–362.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Boehm TD, Matzer M, Brazda D, Gohlke FE. Os acromiale associated with tear of the rotator cuff treated operatively. Review of 33 patients. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2003; 85: 545–549.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lee SI, Chew FS. 1998 ARRS Executive Council Award. Radiology in the emergency department: technique for quantitative description of use and results. American Roentgen Ray Society. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1998; 171: 559–564.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Thomas BJ, Ouellette H, Halpern EF, Rosenthal DI. Automated computer-assisted categorization of radiology reports. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2005; 184: 687–690.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Fleiss J. Statistical methods for rates and proportions. New York, NY: Wiley, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Neer CS 2nd. Impingement lesions. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1983; 173: 70–77.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Jerosch J, Steinbeck J, Strauss JM, Schneider T. Arthroscopic subacromial decompression-indications in os acromiale? Unfallchirurg 1994; 97: 69–73.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Boehm TD, Rolf O, Martetschlaeger F, Kenn W, Gohlke F. Rotator cuff tears associated with os acromiale. Acta Orthop 2005; 76: 241–244.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Uri DS, Kneeland JB, Herzog R. Os acromiale: evaluation of markers for identification on sagittal and coronal oblique MR images. Skeletal Radiol 1997; 26: 31–34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Edelson JG, Zuckerman J, Hershkovitz I. Os acromiale: anatomy and surgical implications. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1993; 75: 551–555.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Musculoskeletal Radiology, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, YAW-6046, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    H. Ouellette, A. Kassarjian & M. Torriani

  2. Musculoskeletal Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    B. J. Thomas, B. Fritz & W. E. Palmer

  3. Department of Orthopedics, University of Montreal, Hôpital Notre-Dame du CHUM, Montreal, Canada

    P. Tétreault

Authors
  1. H. Ouellette
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. J. Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Kassarjian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. Fritz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. Tétreault
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. W. E. Palmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Torriani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Ouellette.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ouellette, H., Thomas, B.J., Kassarjian, A. et al. Re-examining the association of os acromiale with supraspinatus and infraspinatus tears. Skeletal Radiol 36, 835–839 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-007-0305-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-007-0305-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation