2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (3): 435-439

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tear is a common cause for shoulder pain and dysfunction. The morphology of scapular glenoid has always been an important research topic of degenerative rotator cuff tear.  
OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between glenoid version angle, scapular glenoid size and degenerative rotator cuff full-thickness tear.
METHODS:   In a matched case-control study, 36 patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears diagnosed by MRI and shoulder arthroscopy in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from February 2020 to February 2021 were selected as the trial group. The 36 patients with non-shoulder diseases in the same period were selected as the control group according to the age, sex and number of the subjects. Chest CT was performed on admission in both groups. The glenoid version angle and anteroposterior diameter of scapular glenoid were measured by the same orthopedic surgeon on the chest CT, and the difference of the glenoid version angle between the two groups was statistically analyzed.  

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The glenoid version angle: in the trial group (-3.5±4.6)°, compared with the control group (-1.9±3.9)°, there was a more obvious posterior inclination (P < 0.05). (2) In the trial group, the anteroposterior diameter of the scapular glenoid was (26.8±3.3) mm. In the control group, the anteroposterior diameter of the scapular glenoid was (27.2±3.6) mm (P > 0.05). (3) The shoulder joints of the control group were divided into left and right groups, and the results showed that the left scapular glenoid version angle was (-1.85±5.42)°, and the right scapular glenoid version angle was (-2.01±6.18)°. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). (4) When the patients were divided into groups according to sex, the results showed that there was a significant difference in the anteroposterior diameter of the scapular glenoid between males and females (P < 0.05). (5) It is concluded that there is no significant correlation between the size of the scapular glenoid (anteroposterior diameter) and the full-thickness tear of the rotator cuff, but results found the size characteristics of the scapular glenoid, the consistency of the left and right shoulders, and the significant differences between men and women. It is believed that it can provide guidance for the design of shoulder prosthesis in Chinese. There is a significant correlation between the glenoid version angle and the full-thickness rotator cuff tear. Excessive retroversion of the scapular glenoid may be a risk factor for degenerative full-thickness rotator cuff tear. Measuring the glenoid version angle is helpful for the diagnostic evaluation of full-thickness rotator cuff tear.

Keywords:rotator cuff tear, glenoid version angle, anteroposterior diameter, chest CT, should arthroscopes, shoulder prosthesis