Ultrasound of the rotator cuff : a comparison of ultrasonographic and physical examination finding in seventy consecutive cases

Abstract EN

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.