Ultrasound of the Rotator Cuff: A Comparison of Ultrasonographic and Physical Examination Finding in Seventy Consecutive Cases

Abstract

Background : Shoulder pain is a common problem that can pose difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for the family physician It is the third most common musculoskeletal complaint in the general population, and account for 5% of all general practitioners musculoskeletal consults
Objective: To determine the diagnostic performance of ultrasonography compared with the physical examination for detection of rotator cuff tears in painful shoulder syndrome.
Method: Prospective study was done on seventy patients (48 male, 22 female), age ranged between 30-70 years (mean age 50 years), From February 2007 to July 2011, were subjected to comparative study in Al-Kindy teaching hospital with rotator cuff tears, including physical and ultrasonographic examination.
Result: Ultrasound examination confirmed the presence of rotator cuff tear in 58 patients (82.8%), about two third of them below age 40 (65.7%) and male gender (68.6%).
Conclusion: Ultrasonography which is non-invasive, safe; cheap with no known risk like radiation is a sensitive and accurate method of identifying patients with rotator cuff tears, and should be used wherever possible to improve diagnosis and treatment of painful shoulder disorders.