Clinical diagnosis of tears of the rotator cuff.
We have studied the reported clinical assessment of the presence and extent of a rotator cuff tear in 42 patients presenting to a special shoulder clinic. This pre-operative diagnosis was compared with the findings at operation. The clinical tests had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 75%. It is important to exploit clinical examination before resorting to costly and sometimes harmful special investigations.
Lyons
A R
AR
Queen's Medical Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham, England.
Tomlinson
J E
JE
D001175:Arthrography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010173:Palpation; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012421:Rupture; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography