Diminished space in the acromioclavicular joint in forced arm adduction as a radiographic sign of degeneration and osteoarthrosis.
The purpose of this study was to examine the acromioclavicular joint by radiography under forced arm adduction to demonstrate diminished joint space as a sign of cartilage degeneration and osteoarthrosis. A total of 192 right and left joints were investigated in 96 healthy working men. There were three main results from the manoeuvre: in 135 of the 192 joints the space was reduced, in 33 joints it was unchanged, and in 24 joints the joint space was increased. In 43 joints (22% of the total) a marked reduction of the joint space to 1 mm or less occurred during the manoeuvre; in the remaining 92 joints with space reduction the reduction was less pronounced. A narrow acromioclavicular joint space during forced adduction of the arm indicates cartilage thinning and may be interpreted as a sign of osteoarthrosis.
Stenlund
B
B
Construction Industry's Organization for Working Environment Safety and Health, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Goldie
I
I
Marions
O
O
D000173:Acromioclavicular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000174:Acromion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002968:Clavicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical