A plane-based approach for the characterization of supraspinatus tendon tear at the footprint in MRI

Rotator cuff tears are a common cause of persistent shoulder pain and the supraspinatus tendon (SST) is the common culprit. The zonal demarcation of the tendon with advances in MR imaging has identified the SST footprint to be the common location of tear within the SST. Identification and characterization of such tears are important as such tears are a treatable cause of shoulder pain, thereby preventing long-term shoulder instability. This article intends to present a plane-based approach for the characterization of footprint tears of SST on MRI which will help in reporting by the practicing radiologists and radiology residents.