Prevalence and risk factors for development of subscapularis and biceps pathology in shoulders with degenerative rotator cuff disease: a prospective cohort evaluation

Siddhant K. Mehta, Sharlene A. Teefey, William Middleton, Karen Steger-May, Julianne A. Sefko, Jay D. Keener

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of subscapularis and long head of biceps (LHB) in relation to the presence and severity of posterosuperior (PS) rotator cuff disease is not known. Methods: Subjects with asymptomatic rotator cuff tears were enrolled for this prospective longitudinal study (n = 354) and followed annually with shoulder ultrasonography and clinical evaluations to assess for the presence of subscapularis, LHB, and PS rotator cuff pathology and pain development. Results: Subscapularis pathology developed in 14% of shoulders over a median follow-up of 5 years, with partial-thickness tearing occurring most commonly (83%). Age, sex, and hand dominance were not associated with subscapularis pathology. A greater proportion of concomitant full-thickness PS cuff tears were observed in shoulders that developed subscapularis tears (76% vs. 50%, P = .002). The PS cuff tear width (10 mm vs. 14 mm, P = .01) at the time of enrollment and both tear width (10 mm vs. 15 mm, P = .003) and length (12 mm vs. 15.5 mm, P = .02) at the time of diagnosis of subscapularis pathology were greater in subscapularis-torn shoulders. LHB pathology was prevalent in 34% of shoulders, with dislocation/subluxation occurring in 63% and higher prevalence in subscapularis-torn shoulders (71% vs. 12%, P < .01). Subscapularis-torn shoulders were more likely to develop pain (67% vs. 45%, P = .004), and concomitant PS cuff tear enlargement was associated with greater risk for pain development (76% vs. 36%, P = .01). Conclusions: The development of subscapularis and LHB pathology is significantly related to the size of the PS cuff tear. Subscapularis involvement is associated with greater risk of pain development in degenerative rotator cuff disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)451-458
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2020

Keywords

  • Level I
  • Prognosis Study
  • Prospective Cohort Design
  • Subscapularis tear
  • biceps tendon tear
  • degenerative rotator cuff disease
  • rotator cuff tear
  • shoulder pain
  • shoulder ultrasound

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