| Popis: |
Imaging of the shoulder joint, in particular for rotator cuff pathology, has improved tremendously over the past few years. Beyond plain radiographs, imaging capabilities that clinicians can rely on include MRI, MR arthrogram, CT scans, ultrasound scans, vascular Doppler studies, and more recently US Elastography. This chapter will focus on imaging capabilities and possibilities in failed cuff repairs. While it is known that failure to heal occurs in about 20% of cases [1], what is needed is to define a common understanding of failure of cuff repair, what is accepted as failure to heal as opposed to re-tear, and understand the various causes. The presence of high signals, thinning and even gaps in post repair tendons may not constitute a pathological state as patients remain relatively asymptomatic. Hence, an understanding of “normal” changes that might occur in tendons after cuff repair, and how these changes may change over time, is necessary. |
