Radiological assessment of glenoid parameters in rotator cuff tears: Biomechanical perspective and clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tears (RCTs) are a common cause of shoulder dysfunction and are considered multifactorial in origin. Recently, attention has focused on the role of bony scapular morphology, particularly glenoid and acromial parameters, in the pathogenesis of RCTs. This study evaluates the association between radiological glenoid parameters-glenoid version (GV), glenoid inclination (GI), critical shoulder angle (CSA), and acromial index (AI) and rotator cuff tears. METHODS: This case-control observational study was conducted at a tertiary care center and included 174 patients aged more than 50 years. Group 1 included 90 patients with degenerative RCTs, and group 2 included 84 age and sex matched controls. GV (at superior, middle, and inferior glenoid levels), GI, and CSA were measured on CT scans reformatted along the scapular plane, while AI was measured on a true AP Grashey's view radiograph. RESULTS: GV showed no significant difference between the RCT and control groups at all glenoid levels (p > 0.05). Similarly, GI was comparable between groups (9.16° ± 3.76 vs 9.60° ± 3.5; p > 0.05). However, CSA (33.4° ± 4.16 vs 31.9° ± 3.2) and AI (0.69 ± 0.04 vs 0.67 ± 0.04) were marginally higher in the RCT group (p < 0.05), although with considerable overlap between groups. CONCLUSION: Glenoid version and inclination do not appear to be associated with rotator cuff tears. Although CSA and AI were statistically higher in RCT patients, their clinical significance is limited due to substantial overlap with controls.