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Hmmmmm, not according to my orthopedist. My MRI's on both shoulders showed at the worst some torn cartilage, but no problems with the acromial arch.
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The problem can be related to technique on MRI. The images have to be obtained in the correct plane in order to properly visualise the acromial arch. However, the same is true with plain x-rays----if the patient isn't positioned properly, it's very hard to evaluate the acromial arch correctly.
Plain x-rays and MRI are comparable in determining the acromial shape, but MRI obviously provides a great deal more info about the rotator cuff and glenoid labrum.
Acromial shapes and extension of rotator cuff tears: magnetic resonance imaging evaluation.
Hirano M, Ide J, Takagi K.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kumamoto National Hospital.
Magnetic resonance imaging makes it possible to inspect the status of the rotator cuff and the shape of the acromion. To clarify the relationship between acromial shapes and rotator cuff tears, we evaluated magnetic resonance images obtained in 192 shoulders. We classified the acromial shapes into 3 types: type I (flat), type II (curved), and type III (hooked). Among a group of 91 shoulders with rotator cuff tears, 33 (36.3%) were type I, 22 (24.2%) type II, and 36 (39.6%) type III. The size of rotator cuff tears in type III acromions was significantly larger than in type I or II acromions. Comparison of the incidence of each acromial shape between groups of specimens with and without rotator cuff tears revealed no significant differences. We suggest that whereas acromial shapes have a bearing on the extent of rotator cuff tears, the correlation between rotator cuff tears and a type III acromion is not as strong as has been suggested in the literature.