Could Some Measurements of the Scapula be Related to Rotator Cuff Syndrome?

Background: The scapula plays a unique role in shoulder movement and stability. The dimensions of the scapula and its geometry, however, are of essential importance in the pathomechanics of rotator cuff syndrome, total shoulder arthroplasty, and recurrent shoulder dislocation. The aim of this study is to determine the scapula morphology and to investigate with the relationship between rotator cuff syndrome.
Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational study, and a total of 232 radiographs, 125 of which were male and 107 were female, were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups as follows: Patients with rotator cuff syndrome (116 patients) and patients with no history of shoulder problems (116 patients). 9 different parameters were measured: The maximum scapular length, the maximum scapular width, the scapular index, the maximum glenoid cavity length, the maximum glenoid cavity width, the glenoid cavity index, the length of acromion, the distances between the acromion and coracoid process and length of the spina scapula.
Results: The maximum scapular length, the maximum glenoid cavity length (p=0.009) and the length of spina scapula (p=0.041) were significantly different between the rotator cuff and control groups in evaluating parameters. All parameters were significantly different between male and female patients (p<0.05).
Conclusion: A detailed knowledge of scapular anatomy is essential for successful total shoulder arthroplasty or surgical treatment of disorders related to scapula and shoulder. We think that the measurements of acromion, glenoid and scapula sizes obtained from our study will help surgeons to better understand shoulder morphology and to decide on the appropriate glenoid component size for shoulder arthroplasty. The fact that the lengths of the scapula, glenoid cavity and spina scapula are significantly different in rotator cuff syndrome suggests that scapula morphology may be effective in rotator cuff syndrome.