Retrospective analysis of coracoacromial morphology using novel method
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Retrospective analysis of coracoacromial morphology using a novel method
IRAS ID
127015
Contact name
Puneet Monga
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust
Research summary
Shoulder impingement syndrome commonly occurs with symptoms of shoulder pain and an inability to raise the arm. It happens when the shoulder’s bony parts bump each other when raising the arm and this repeatedly entraps soft tissues in the surrounding area. These tissues become inflamed causing pain and restricted shoulder movements. Over a period of time this repeated irritation can lead to disfigurement of the structures and rupture can occur in the involved soft tissues. When this occurs further pain is experienced, even at bedtime, and there is weakness when attempting to raise the affected arm.\n\nMedical studies have shown that the disease is associated with an irregularity in the shape of the roof of the shoulder, also known as coracoacromial arch. This present study aims to measure how much the arch of an affected shoulder differs from a ‘normal’ one to better understanding the disease to identify prevention strategies and early treatment plans. The study will involve taking measurements on images of the inside of the shoulder (obtained using MRI scanning) at the hospital’s radiology department. A novel shoulder angle and its measurement will be described, and the feasibility of its application will be established. The measurement will be taken on computer screens using specialised medical software. Owing to its novelty, a pilot study is planned to test the consistency of the shoulder angle measurements when the same surgeon obtains repeated measurements from the same images and when comparing measurements from the same images taken by two different surgeons. No patients will be physically involved in the study and the 50 images that will be used will include no personal information. If this study establishes that the shoulder angle can be consistently measured, a future study is planned to investigate whether the shoulder angle measurement can predict shoulder impingement syndrome.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/0047
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jan 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion