PURPOSE To relate histologic changes in rotator cuff tendons to the appearance on T1-weighted as well as fat-suppressed T2-weighted and proton density-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS T1-weighted, fat-suppressed T2-weighted and fat-suppressed proton density-weighted sequences of 18 cadaveric shoulders were acquired. The supraspinatus, infraspinatus, a...

BACKGROUND in the last years the incidence of rotator cuff tears increased and one main cause still waiting to be clarified. Receptors for thyroid hormones in rotator cuff tendons suggest possible effects on tendons metabolism and status. We undertook a retrospective, observational cohort study of 441 patients who underwent arthroscopic and mini-open repair for non traumatic degenerative rotato...

INTRODUCTION: Pathologic changes in the long head of the biceps tendon are common clinically in conjunction with rotator cuff tears [1,2]. However, there is some debate regarding the role of the biceps at the shoulder following a cuff tear [3,4] and therefore, controversy exists regarding its treatment. A previous study in a rat model determined that the biceps tendon was detrimentally affected...

UNLABELLED Detailed anatomy, crucial in modern high-definition diagnostics imaging, is a base for understanding diagnostic images and the nature of the diagnosed disease. THE AIM OF THIS PAPER is presentation of a new anatomical model of the rotator cuff, which includes definition of tendinous and capsule-ligamentous layers as equally important to rotator cuff function understanding. Schemati...

BACKGROUND Diseased tendons are characterised by fibrotic scar tissue, which adversely affects tendon structure and function and increases the likelihood of re-injury. The mechanisms and expression profiles of fibrosis in diseased tendon is understudied compared to pulmonary and renal tissues, where transforming growth factor (TGF)β and its associated superfamily are known to be key drivers of ...

INTRODUCTION rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are the most common tendon injury seen in orthopedic patients. Muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration of the muscle are crucial factors that dictate the outcome following rotator cuff surgery. Though less studied in humans, rotator cuff muscle fibrosis has been seen in animal models as well and may influence outcomes as well. The purpose of this study was t...

BACKGROUND Pathology of the soft tissues of the shoulder including the musculotendinous rotator cuff and subacromial bursa are extremely common and are a principal cause of pain and suffering. Competing theories have been proposed to explain the pathoaetiology of rotator cuff pathology at specific stages and presentations of the condition. This review proposes a model to describe the continuum ...

INTRODUCTION: Rotator cuff tears (RCT) are the most common tendon injury seen in orthopedic patients. Although small tears are amenable to arthroscopic repair, massive RCT repairs can result in re-tears and poor clinical outcomes. Muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration in rotator cuff muscles are major complications of chronic massive RCT and are thought to be among the factors responsible for t...

INTRODUCTION: Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of shoulder pain and disability. Surgical repair of the rotator cuff tears is effective for improvement of shoulder function. The long head of the biceps brachii (LHB) tendon has an important mechanism for humeral head stability and glenohumeral articulation. 1) Several lesions around the LHB tendon associated with rotator cuff tears are repor...

Massive rotator cuff tears are particularly challenging to treat and severely limit the function of the shoulder. Compared with a small rotator cuff tear, massive tears are more unpredictable and usually present with low tendon quality. When performing an anatomical repair of the rotator cuff, the surgical treatment is often associated with failure of the construct. An alternative procedure tha...