Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging UTE-T2* Mapping of Tendon Healing After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Longitudinal Study

Background: Quantitative ultrashort echo time–T2* (UTE-T2*) mapping shows promise for the detection of potential tendon biochemical conditions, while validation against established clinical studies in the shoulder is needed. Purpose: To evaluate and characterize the healing process of the repaired rotator cuff based on longitudinal changes in UTE-T2* values, clinical outcomes, and repair status in patients after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Patients with ARCR (n = 25) underwent quantitative MRI and clinical examinations at serial follow-up time points: 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Age-matched healthy controls (n = 15) were evaluated at 3 and 12 months after enrollment. Clinical scores included the Constant, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, and Fudan University Shoulder score, and visual analog scale for pain. The MRI examination included UTE-T2*mapping. UTE-T2* maps were generated for T2* values at the healing site. Sugaya classification was adopted to evaluate the repair status. Longitudinal analyses of clinical outcomes, UTE-T2* changes, and Sugaya classification were conducted. Results: The overall retear rate was 8% (2/25, all Sugaya type IV). All patients (including the ones with retear) achieved satisfactory outcomes at 12 months that lasted to 24 months on the basis of clinical scores. The mean UTE-T2* values at the healing site showed an increase from 3 to 6 months ( P = .03) and then decreased to a level similar to that observed in age-matched healthy tendons at 12 months ( P = .1). No significant differences were found between UTE-T2* values at 12 and 24 months ( P = .6). UTE-T2* values at the healing site significantly varied with the repair status according to Sugaya classification ( P < .05). Moreover, significant correlations were noted between clinical scores and UTE-T2* values at 6 months ( r = −0.6 to −0.3; all P < .05) and 12 months ( r = −0.6 to −0.2; all P < .05). Conclusion: This study indicated a healing-related relationship between clinical outcomes and quantitative UTE-T2* values, which highlights the potential of using UTE-T2* mapping to track the tendon-healing process noninvasively. Moreover, the repaired tendon was comparable to age-matched healthy controls at 12-month follow-up based on UTE-T2* values.