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Decreased rotator cuff muscle cross-sectional areas in subjects with adhesive capsulitis: a study comparing male and female subjects

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Abstract

Objective

To compare rotator cuff (RC) muscle cross-sectional areas (CSA) in subjects with adhesive capsulitis (AC) to age- and sex-matched controls.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively analyzed 97 shoulder MRIs or MR arthrography studies, of which 42 were clinically diagnosed with AC (27 female, 15 male) and 55 were age- and sex-matched controls (38 female, 17 male). All AC subjects underwent imaging ≥ 6 months after symptom onset. All imaging was examined to exclude RC full-thickness tears and prior surgery. A standardized T1 sagittal MR image was segmented in each subject to obtain the CSA of subscapularis (SSC), supraspinatus (SSP), and infraspinatus (ISP) muscles. Differences in CSAs between AC and control subjects were analyzed by sex (females and males separately) and all subjects combined.

Results

AC females had significantly decreased SSC (P = 0.002) and total (P = 0.006) CSAs compared to controls. Male AC subjects showed decreased SSC (P = 0.044), SSP (P = 0.001), and total (P = 0.005) CSAs. Across all subjects, male and female, the AC cohort had significantly decreased SSC (P = 0.019) and total (P = 0.029) CSAs compared to controls.

Conclusion

Decreased RC muscle CSAs were present in AC subjects with ≥ 6 months of symptom duration, with decreased SSC and total CSAs in male and female subjects, and decreased SSP CSA in males.

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Abbreviations

AC:

Adhesive capsulitis

CSA:

Cross-sectional area

ISP:

Infraspinatus

RC:

Rotator cuff

ROM:

Range of motion

SSC:

Subscapularis

SSP:

Supraspinatus

MRA:

MR arthrography

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street YAW-6048, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Ivanna Zorgno, F. Joseph Simeone, Marilyn E. Galdamez, Connie Y. Chang, Florian A. Huber & Martin Torriani

  2. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Florian A. Huber

Authors
  1. Ivanna Zorgno
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  2. F. Joseph Simeone
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  3. Marilyn E. Galdamez
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  4. Connie Y. Chang
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  5. Florian A. Huber
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  6. Martin Torriani
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Correspondence to Martin Torriani.

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Ivanna Zorgno and F. Joseph Simeone shared first authorship

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Zorgno, I., Simeone, F.J., Galdamez, M.E. et al. Decreased rotator cuff muscle cross-sectional areas in subjects with adhesive capsulitis: a study comparing male and female subjects. Skeletal Radiol 53, 761–767 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-023-04487-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-023-04487-1

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