Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Weerakkody Y, Knipe H, Acromial spur. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 03 May 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-93022
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:
- Radiopaedia Events Pty Ltd, Speaker fees (past)
- Integral Diagnostics, Shareholder (ongoing)
- Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to
not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Acromial spurs have been associated with rotator cuff tears and impingement syndrome although a direct causative link is controversial 4.
If the spur extends inferior, it can be called a subacromial spur.
Acromial spurs usually occur at the lateral part. In that situation, they can reduce the acromiohumeral interval and predispose to subacromial impingement.
Various morphological types have been described 2,4,5:
- heel
- keel
- lateral/anterior traction
- lateral/anterior bird beak
- medial
Acromial spurs are probably best evaluated on plain radiography in the sagittal oblique plane 1.
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1. Umer M, Qadir I, Azam M. Subacromial Impingement Syndrome. Orthop Rev (Pavia). 2012;4(2):e18. doi:10.4081/or.2012.e18 - Pubmed
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2. Oh J, Kim J, Lee H, Choi J. Classification and Clinical Significance of Acromial Spur in Rotator Cuff Tear: Heel-Type Spur and Rotator Cuff Tear. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2010;468(6):1542-50. doi:10.1007/s11999-009-1058-5 - Pubmed
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3. Kim Y, Jung K, Kang S, Hong J, Choi K, Choi J. Relationship of the Shape of Subacromial Spur and Rotator Cuff Partial Thickness Tear. Clin Shoulder Elb. 2019;22(3):139-45. doi:10.5397/cise.2019.22.3.139 - Pubmed
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5. Kongmalai P, Apivatgaroon A, Chernchujit B. Morphological Classification of Acromial Spur: Correlation Between Rockwood Tilt View and Arthroscopic Finding. SICOT J. 2017;3:4. doi:10.1051/sicotj/2016039 - Pubmed
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