Recurrent rotator cuff tear of the shoulders after arthroscopic repair: Ultrasonographic assessment with MRI and MR-arthrography comparison

Purposes To assess the diagnostic values of the ultrasonographic (US) findings for recurrent rotator cuff tear (RCT) after arthroscopic repair with the comparison of MRI and/or MR-arthrography. Methods US were carried out in 48 shoulders that had received arthroscopic repair of the rotator cuff (RC). In all shoulders, MRI or MR-arthrography was performed in 3 months after US examination, and recurrent RCT were diagnosed in 32 shoulders. The US criteria used for diagnosis of RCT before repair, i.e. non-visualization of cuff tendon, fluid-filled defect in cuff tendon, hypoechogencity in the cuff tendon, double cortex sign, sagging peribursal fat sign, effusion in the subacromiosubdeltoid (SASD) bursa and the glenohumeral (GH) joint, etc. were assessed and were compared with the MRI and/or MR-arthrography findings. Results The US findings of non-visualization of cuff tendon and fluid-filled defect in cuff tendon were the most reliable signs for US diagnosis of recurrent RCT, with the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 92%, 88%, 100%. The findings of hypoechogencity in the cuff tendon, double cortex sign, sagging peribursal fat sign, effusion in the SASD bursa although had high sensitivity, the diagnostic accuracy and specificity were low. Conclusions The most reliable findings for US diagnosis of recurrent RCT in the shoulders after arthroscopic repair of the RC were non-visualization of cuff tendon and fluid-filled defect in cuff tendon.