Abstract
Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological mechanics. I went abroad to the Mayo Clinic to learn biomechanics, and participated in the following research.
Because the prediction of rotator cuff extensibility is clinically important for pre-surgical planning for rotator cuff repair, we determined the feasibility of B-mode ultrasound and Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) in predicting the extensibility of the rotator cuff muscle on cadaveric specimens with cuff tears of varying sizes. Eleven fresh frozen cadaveric shoulders were obtained, and the size of the rotator cuff tears was determined as follows: small, medium, large, massive, and intact/no tear. After the SWE modulus of the superficial and deep muscles was measured, the force applied to the supraspinatus tendon and displacement were recorded while the supraspinatus tendon was axially stretched. A regression analysis was preformed to investigate the association between tendon displacement and SWE modulus. There was a significant negative correlation between the displacement of the supraspinatus tendon and the SWE modulus of the superficial and deep muscles. SWE ultrasound may predict the extensibility of the supraspinatus musculotendinous unit, independent of the size of the supraspinatus tendon.
