Anteroposterior and Lateral Coverage of the Acromion: Prediction of the Rotator Cuff Tear and Tear Size

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess whether the anteroposterior coverage of the acromion reflecting acromial morphology affects the rotator cuff tear (RCT) and tear size, in addition to the lateral coverage. METHODS: Medical records of 356 patients with RCTs, concentric osteoarthritis, and calcific tendinitis identified using three-dimensional computed tomography between January 2016 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into group A (those with RCTs) and group B (those with concentric osteoarthritis or calcific tendinitis). Subsequently, group A was subdivided into three categories according to the size of RCTs: small-to-medium, large, and massive. The lateral coverage was measured through the lateral acromial angle (LAA) and critical shoulder angle (CSA), whereas the anteroposterior coverage was measured via the acromial tilt (AT), acromiohumeral interval (AHI) in the sagittal view, and anteroposterior coverage index (APCI) as a new radiologic parameter. RESULTS: Between groups A and B, CSA (34.5° ± 3.4° and 30.8° ± 3.4°, respectively), APCI (0.83 ± 0.10 and 0.75 ± 0.08, respectively), and AHI (6.3 ± 2.0 mm and 7.8 ± 1.8 mm, respectively) were significantly different (all p < 0.001), whereas LAA and AT did not show a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.089 and p = 0.665, respectively). The independent predictive radiologic parameters of the RCT were the CSA, APCI, and AHI (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.043, respectively); among these, the APCI showed the highest regression coefficient (odds ratio = 2.82). The parameters associated with the size of RCTs were CSA (p = 0.022) and AHI, of which AHI, in particular, had the most significant effect on both small-to-medium and large tears (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Large CSA, high APCI, and low AHI were predictors of RCTs, with the APCI showing the strongest correlation. In addition to the large CSA, low AHI also correlated with the size of RCTs and affected the entire size groups. We suggest that both the lateral coverage and anteroposterior coverage of the acromion should be considered essential factors for predicting the presence of RCTs and tear size.