TY - JOUR
T1 - Vascularity of the supraspinatus tendon three months after repair
T2 - Characterization using contrast-enhanced ultrasound
AU - Gamradt, Seth C.
AU - Gallo, Robert A.
AU - Adler, Ronald S.
AU - Maderazo, Alex
AU - Altchek, David W.
AU - Warren, Russell F.
AU - Fealy, Stephen
N1 - Funding Information:
We acknowledge Philips Medical Systems (Andover, MA) for technical support. This research was supported by a grant from Major League Baseball (S.F., R.A.). None of the researchers or an affiliated institute has received (or agreed to receive) from a commercial entity something of value (exceeding the equivalent of US $500) related in any way to this manuscript or research. Research was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY.
PY - 2010/1
Y1 - 2010/1
N2 - Background: There has been limited in-vivo assessment of rotator cuff vascularity following repair. This study aims to characterize the vascularity of the shoulder 3 months following supraspinatus tendon repair. Methods: Twenty-nine patients (average age, 61.4 years) underwent Perflutren lipid microsphere contrast-enhanced shoulder ultrasound examinations 3 months after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Each shoulder was scanned at rest and following exercise using linear phased array 9-MHz transducer optimized to detect the contrast agent. Blood flow was quantified off-line using ultrasound imaging quantification and analysis software (QLAB, Philips, Andover, MA). Peak enhancement (vascular volume) and rate of rise (perfusion) were determined for 3 regions of interest: peribursal area, supraspinatus tendon, and anchor site. Results: Peak enhancement and rate of rise were greatest in the peribursal soft tissue and anchor site. Resting peak enhancement and rate of rise were significantly lower within the tendon compared to the other 2 regions (P < .001). Exercise resulted in increased enhancement and rate-of-rise to all 3 regions, but had a significant predilection towards increasing vascular volume within the peri-bursal region (P = .026). Conclusion: At 3 months following repair, the majority of blood flow to the repair is derived from the peribursal soft tissues and the anchor site. The tendon, particularly those with a defect at 3 months, is relatively avascular. Though limited by inclusion of only a single time point, this study introduces a new technique to quantify vascularity following supraspinatus repairs and suggests that the surrounding vascular milieu may play a role in tendon healing. Level of Evidence: Basic Science.
AB - Background: There has been limited in-vivo assessment of rotator cuff vascularity following repair. This study aims to characterize the vascularity of the shoulder 3 months following supraspinatus tendon repair. Methods: Twenty-nine patients (average age, 61.4 years) underwent Perflutren lipid microsphere contrast-enhanced shoulder ultrasound examinations 3 months after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Each shoulder was scanned at rest and following exercise using linear phased array 9-MHz transducer optimized to detect the contrast agent. Blood flow was quantified off-line using ultrasound imaging quantification and analysis software (QLAB, Philips, Andover, MA). Peak enhancement (vascular volume) and rate of rise (perfusion) were determined for 3 regions of interest: peribursal area, supraspinatus tendon, and anchor site. Results: Peak enhancement and rate of rise were greatest in the peribursal soft tissue and anchor site. Resting peak enhancement and rate of rise were significantly lower within the tendon compared to the other 2 regions (P < .001). Exercise resulted in increased enhancement and rate-of-rise to all 3 regions, but had a significant predilection towards increasing vascular volume within the peri-bursal region (P = .026). Conclusion: At 3 months following repair, the majority of blood flow to the repair is derived from the peribursal soft tissues and the anchor site. The tendon, particularly those with a defect at 3 months, is relatively avascular. Though limited by inclusion of only a single time point, this study introduces a new technique to quantify vascularity following supraspinatus repairs and suggests that the surrounding vascular milieu may play a role in tendon healing. Level of Evidence: Basic Science.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jse.2009.04.004
DO - 10.1016/j.jse.2009.04.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 19525129
AN - SCOPUS:71649096574
SN - 1058-2746
VL - 19
SP - 73
EP - 80
JO - Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
JF - Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
IS - 1
ER -