Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40975728›Full record

ArticleAnnals of biomedical engineering2025

Rotator Cuff Tear-induced Changes in Tendon Structure and Mechanics Measured by Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Mason J Garcia, Giovanni Intermesoli, Alberto Lalli, Gabriel Landi, Dev R Mehrotra, Erik E Ersland, Arun J Ramappa, Joseph P DeAngelis, Aaron Grant, Michael B Albro and 2 more

Abstract read
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Article in Annals of biomedical engineering, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Mason J GarciaMusculoskeletal Translational Innovation Initiative, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, RN123, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Giovanni IntermesoliFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy.
Alberto LalliFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy.
Gabriel LandiMusculoskeletal Translational Innovation Initiative, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, RN123, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Dev R MehrotraDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Erik E ErslandMechanical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Arun J RamappaMusculoskeletal Translational Innovation Initiative, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, RN123, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Joseph P DeAngelisMusculoskeletal Translational Innovation Initiative, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, RN123, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Aaron GrantDepartment of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Michael B AlbroMechanical Engineering Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Umile Giuseppe Longo *Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy.
Ara Nazarian *Musculoskeletal Translational Innovation Initiative, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, RN123, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. anazaria@bidmc.harvard.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3992-3489

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionRotator cuff (RC) tears are prevalent degenerative injuries associated with progressive loss of shoulder function. Although MRI is routinely used for diagnosing RC tears, the relationship between imaging biomarkers and tendon mechanical function remains poorly understood. This study investigates whether quantitative MRI (qMRI), particularly T2 relaxation time, reflects structural and mechanical changes in supraspinatus tendons with RC tears.

methodsTwenty-four human cadaveric supraspinatus tendons (10 intact, 14 torn) were analyzed. Mechanical testing was performed to assess structural and material properties. T2 mapping using a 9.4T MRI scanner was employed to determine relaxation times. Raman spectroscopy and multiphoton imaging were used to assess biochemical composition and collagen organization.

resultsTorn tendons showed significantly reduced stiffness (p = 0.035) and failure force (p = 0.015) compared to intact tendons. T2 relaxation times were significantly elevated in the torn group (23.7 ± 3.5 ms vs. 20.6 ± 3.3 ms; p = 0.035), with higher heterogeneity and 90th percentile values. T2 metrics correlated strongly with mechanical properties (stiffness: r DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that T2 relaxation time is a sensitive non-invasive biomarker of tendon mechanical health and collagen structure in RC tears. These findings support the clinical utility of qMRI in assessing tendon pathology and guiding treatment strategies.

Indexed as

Magnetic Resonance ImagingRotator CuffRotator Cuff InjuriesTendon InjuriesAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBiomechanical PhenomenaCollagenFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedCollagenMultiphoton imagingQuantitative MRI (qMRI)Raman spectroscopyRotator cuff tearSupraspinatus tendonT2 relaxation timeTendon mechanics

Identifiers

PMID40975728

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.