The Effect of Acromiohumeral Distance on Isolated Supraspinatus Tendon Tear Repair

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether preoperative acromiohumeral distance has any prognostic value in predicting postoperative functional outcomes after repair of isolated supraspinatus tear. Methods: Patients who underwent arthroscopic supraspinatus tear repair between 2015 and 2019 were evaluated retrospectively. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopic findings of tears were classified according to Patte classification; patients in group II, segment III in the sagittal plane, levels 1 and 2 in the frontal plane, biceps tendon intact, and without acromioplasty were included in this study. Group I consisted of 63 patients (F ¼ 38; M ¼ 25) with the tear at the insertion level and group II with 41 patients (F ¼ 23; M ¼ 18) with the stump at the level of the caput humeri. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs and MRI were compared by measuring the acromiohumeral distances of the patients. Patients were evaluated functionally with the use of American Shoulder and elbow surgeon shoulder score and Constant-Murley score. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, and the affected side. Jobe and drop sign test results were significantly positive in group II. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of functional scores, preoperatively and postoperatively. There was a statistically significant improvement in group I in postoperative abduction, flexion, and external rotation movements in terms of joint range of motion. In radiological evaluation, there was a statistically significant difference in all measurements in group I compared to group II. Conclusion: The preoperative acromiohumeral distance has no prognostic value in predicting postoperative functional outcomes.

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