Ultrasound examination of the painful shoulder

Abstract

Ultransonic examinations of the shoulders of 20 patients were undertaken. Eight were asymptomatic volunteers, and the remaining 12 had clinical signs of rotator cuff tears. The patients with painful shoulders were further evaluated with arthrography. The results of these two tests were then correlated. Although a correlation of 75% was found between the ultrasonographic and angiographic examinations, in cases where the area of the cuff tear could be adequately visualized with ultrasound, correlation rose to 90%.