Quantitative T2 mapping-based tendon healing is related to the clinical outcomes during the first year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy volume 29, pages127–135(2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between quantitative T2 mapping-based tendon healing and clinical outcomes during the first year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Methods

Twenty-two patients with rotator cuff tear were prospectively recruited. Serial clinical and MRI follow-up assessments were carried out at 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after surgery. Twenty healthy volunteers were involved and were examined with clinical and MRI assessments. Clinical assessments included Constant Score (CS), the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), the modified University of California, Los Angles (UCLA) scores and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The region of interest of tendon healing was defined directly over the medial suture anchor on T2 mapping. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlations between MRI measurements and clinical outcomes.

Results

All clinical scores indicated significant improvements over the postoperative observation period compared with the initial preoperative values (all P < 0.001). At 12 months, all of the patients returned to their daily life activities. The T2 values of the healing site significantly decreased over time (P < 0.001) and were comparable to those of healthy tendons at 12 months (n.s.). Additionally, the T2 values were negatively correlated with CS (r = − 0.5, P < 0.001), ASES (r = − 0.5, P < 0.001), and UCLA (r = − 0.5, P < 0.001); and positively correlated with VAS score (r = 0.4, P < 0.001). No significant correlations were found between Sugaya classification and clinical scores (all n.s.).

Conclusions

With regard to tendon healing during the first follow-up year, the T2 values of the healing site decreased with the improvement of clinical outcomes over time.

Level of evidence

II

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

US$ 39.95

Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

References

  1. 1.

    Baum T, Joseph GB, Karampinos DC, Jungmann PM, Link TM, Bauer JS (2013) Cartilage and meniscal T2 relaxation time as non-invasive biomarker for knee osteoarthritis and cartilage repair procedures. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 21:1474–1484

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  2. 2.

    Bayle X, Pham TT, Faruch M, Gobet A, Mansat P, Bonnevialle N (2017) No difference in outcome for open versus arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a prospective comparative trial. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 137:1707–1712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. 3.

    Chen Y, Li H, Qiao Y, Ge Y, Li Y, Hua Y et al (2019) Double-row rotator cuff repairs lead to more intensive pain during the early postoperative period but have a lower risk of residual pain than single-row repairs. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-019-05346-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. 4.

    Constant CR, Murley AH (1987) A clinical method of functional assessment of the shoulder. Clin Orthop Relat Res 124:160–164

    Google Scholar 

  5. 5.

    Czegley C, Gillmann C, Schauer C, Seyler L, Reinwald C, Hahn M et al (2018) A model of chronic enthesitis and new bone formation characterized by multimodal imaging. Dis Model Mech 11:dmm035071

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. 6.

    DeOrio JK, Cofield RH (1984) Results of a second attempt at surgical repair of a failed initial rotator-cuff repair. J Bone Joint Surg Am 66:563–567

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  7. 7.

    Elliott RSJ, Lim YJ, Coghlan J, Troupis J, Bell S (2019) Structural integrity of rotator cuff at 16 years following repair: good long-term outcomes despite recurrent tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 11:26–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. 8.

    Ellman H, Hanker G, Bayer M (1986) Repair of the rotator cuff. End-result study of factors influencing reconstruction. J Bone Joint Surg Am 68:1136–1144

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  9. 9.

    Fukawa T, Yamaguchi S, Watanabe A, Sasho T, Akagi R, Muramatsu Y et al (2015) Quantitative assessment of tendon healing by using MR T2 mapping in a rabbit achilles tendon transection model treated with platelet-rich plasma. Radiology 276:748–755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. 10.

    Iannotti JP, Deutsch A, Green A, Rudicel S, Christensen J, Marraffino S et al (2013) Time to failure after rotator cuff repair: a prospective imaging study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 95:965–971

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. 11.

    Iijima Y, Matsuki K, Hoshika S, Ueda Y, Onishi K, Tokai M et al (2017) Differences in fatty degeneration of rotator cuff muscles at different sites, as quantified by T2 mapping. J Orthop Sci 22:281–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. 12.

    Jo CH, Shin JS (2013) Cross-sectional area of the supraspinatus muscle after rotator cuff repair: an anatomic measure of outcome. J Bone Joint Surg Am 95:1785–1791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. 13.

    Kanazawa T, Gotoh M, Ohta K, Honda H, Ohzono H, Shimokobe H et al (2016) Histomorphometric and ultrastructural analysis of the tendon-bone interface after rotator cuff repair in a rat model. Sci Rep 6:33800

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  14. 14.

    Khazzam M, Kuhn JE, Mulligan E, Abboud JA, Baumgarten KM, Brophy RH et al (2012) Magnetic resonance imaging identification of rotator cuff retears after repair: interobserver and intraobserver agreement. Am J Sports Med 40:1722–1727

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. 15.

    Kim JH, Hong IT, Ryu KJ, Bong ST, Lee YS, Kim JH (2014) Retear rate in the late postoperative period after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Am J Sports Med 42:2606–2613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. 16.

    Koh KH, Laddha MS, Lim TK, Park JH, Yoo JC (2012) Serial structural and functional assessments of rotator cuff repairs: do they differ at 6 and 19 months postoperatively? J Shoulder Elbow Surg 21:859–866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. 17.

    Kwon J, Kim SH, Lee YH, Kim TI, Oh JH (2019) The rotator cuff healing index: a new scoring system to predict rotator cuff healing after surgical repair. Am J Sports Med 47:173–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. 18.

    Lee SH, Kim JW, Kim TK, Kweon SH, Kang HJ, Kim SJ et al (2017) Is the arthroscopic suture bridge technique suitable for full-thickness rotator cuff tears of any size? Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25:2138–2146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. 19.

    Li H, Chen Y, Chen J, Hua Y, Chen S (2018) Large critical shoulder angle has higher risk of tendon retear after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Am J Sports Med 46:1892–1900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. 20.

    Malavolta EA, Assuncao JH, Ramos FF, Ferreira TC, Gracitelli ME, Bordalo-Rodrigues M et al (2016) Serial structural MRI evaluation of arthroscopy rotator cuff repair: does Sugaya’s classification correlate with the postoperative clinical outcomes? Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 136:791–797

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. 21.

    Matsuki K, Watanabe A, Ochiai S, Kenmoku T, Ochiai N, Obata T et al (2014) Quantitative evaluation of fatty degeneration of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles using T2 mapping. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 23:636–641

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. 22.

    Michener LA, McClure PW, Sennett BJ (2002) American shoulder and elbow surgeons standardized shoulder assessment Form, patient self-report section: reliability, validity, and responsiveness. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 11:587–594

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. 23.

    Mihata T, Watanabe C, Fukunishi K, Ohue M, Tsujimura T, Fujiwara K et al (2011) Functional and structural outcomes of single-row versus double-row versus combined double-row and suture-bridge repair for rotator cuff tears. Am J Sports Med 39:2091–2098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. 24.

    Park SY, Lee SH, Lee MH, Chung HW, Shin MJ (2017) Changes in the T2 value of cartilage after meniscus transplantation over 1 year. Eur Radiol 27:1496–1504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. 25.

    Pfalzer F, Huth J, Sturmer E, Endele D, Kniesel B, Mauch F (2017) Serial clinical and MRI examinations after arthroscopic rotator cuff reconstruction using double-row technique. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 25:2174–2181

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  26. 26.

    Sano H, Ishii H, Trudel G, Uhthoff HK (1999) Histologic evidence of degeneration at the insertion of 3 rotator cuff tendons: a comparative study with human cadaveric shoulders. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 8:574–579

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  27. 27.

    Sugaya H, Maeda K, Matsuki K, Moriishi J (2007) Repair integrity and functional outcome after arthroscopic double-row rotator cuff repair. A prospective outcome study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 89:953–960

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. 28.

    Tao H, Qiao Y, Hu Y, Xie Y, Lu R, Yan X et al (2018) Quantitative T2-mapping and T2()-mapping evaluation of changes in Cartilage Matrix after acute anterior cruciate ligament rupture and the correlation between the results of both methods. Biomed Res Int 2018:7985672

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. 29.

    Tashjian RZ, Granger EK, Chalmers PN (2018) Healing Rates and Functional Outcomes After Triple-Loaded Single-Row Versus Transosseous-Equivalent Double-Row Rotator Cuff Tendon Repair. Orthop J Sports Med 6:2325967118805365

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. 30.

    Thomopoulos S, Genin GM, Galatz LM (2010) The development and morphogenesis of the tendon-to-bone insertion - what development can teach us about healing. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact 10:35–45

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. 31.

    Trudel G, Melkus G, Cron GO, Louati H, Sheikh A, Larson PEZ et al (2017) Imaging of the rabbit supraspinatus enthesis at 7 Tesla: a 4-week time course after repair surgery and effect of channeling. J Magn Reson Imaging 46:461–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. 32.

    Weinreb JH, Sheth C, Apostolakos J, McCarthy MB, Barden B, Cote MP et al (2014) Tendon structure, disease, and imaging. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J 4:66–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. 33.

    Xu C, Zhao J, Li D (2014) Meta-analysis comparing single-row and double-row repair techniques in the arthroscopic treatment of rotator cuff tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 23:182–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. 34.

    Zumstein MA, Ladermann A, Raniga S, Schar MO (2017) The biology of rotator cuff healing. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res 103:S1–S10

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81671652).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Yuxue Xie and Shaohua Liu contributed equally to this work.

Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology & Institute of Medical Functional and Molecular Imaging, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqizhong Road, Shanghai, 200040, China

    Yuxue Xie, Yang qiao, Yiwen Hu, Yuyang Zhang, Hongyue Tao & Shuang Chen

  2. Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 middle Wulumuqizhong Road, Shanghai, 200040, China

    Shaohua Liu

  3. GE Healthcare, Shanghai, China

    Jianxun Qu & Yong Shen

Authors
  1. Yuxue Xie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shaohua Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yang qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yiwen Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yuyang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jianxun Qu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yong Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Hongyue Tao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Shuang Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Hongyue Tao or Shuang Chen.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Health Sciences Institutional Review Board of our hospital (Huashan Hospital Fudan University HIRB, 2015M-010).

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xie, Y., Liu, S., qiao, Y. et al. Quantitative T2 mapping-based tendon healing is related to the clinical outcomes during the first year after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 29, 127–135 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-019-05811-w

Download citation

Keywords

  • Rotator cuff tear
  • Double-row
  • Rotator cuff repair
  • Serial
  • Functional MRI
  • Tendon healing