Accuracy of ultrasonography in assessing patients presenting with shoulder pain

Abstract EN

Hypothesis: Distingiushing between shoulder disorders can sometimes be difficult, where an imaging technique is needed for further evaluation of such cases.

Ultrasound (US) is a fast, safe, inexpensive, widely available, totally non-invasive, radiation free and can provide a dynamic view of moving parts.

Materials and Methods: This present study was performed to assess the usefulness of ultrasound examination in detecting the pathology of the painful shoulder.

Forty painful shoulders were assessed clinically and diagnosed with US examination.

The diagnosis was confirmed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results: US was found to be reliable and highly accurate for the detection of full-thickness tears, calcific tendinitis and acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) degeneration (accuracy = 100%).

In the assessment of partial thickness tear, rotator tendinitis with bursitis and ACJ impingement, US failed to diagnose some cases (accuracy = 92.5%, 92.5% and 95% respectively).

Conclusion: US is an accurate, highly specific tool in the diagnosis of soft tissue disorders, being a logical extension of the clinical examination of the musculoskeletal system.

Also, it is an economic, fast technique rather than the expensive MRI.