Supraspinatus tendon US morphology in basketball players: correlation with main pathologic models of secondary impingement syndrome in young overhead athletes. Preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate supraspinatus tendon sonographic morphology in a population of young overhead athletes in correlation with main pathologic models of secondary shoulder impingement syndrome.


METHODS
Between April and May 2004, 20 subjects (ten professional basketball players and ten non-athlete controls of the same age, weight and height ranges) underwent bilateral, standardised, sonographic sholulder examination to evaluate supraspinatus echotexture, supraspinatus and subacromial bursa thickness, subacromial space width (cutoff of 7 mm) and dynamic anterior impingement beneath the acromial margin.


RESULTS
All subjects were right handed. No symptomatic controls were found. Four players showed signs and symptoms of right atraumatic shoulder instability (two cases) or supraspinatus impingement with anterior pain (one right and one left shoulder). Subacromial space width was reduced in five right-dominant players' shoulders (three symptomatic and two asymptomatic) versus zero controls (p<0.05) and in eight players' shoulders versus zero controls on total shoulders (p<0.05). No other significant differences were observed between the two groups in sonographic parameters considered.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the study limitations, ultrasonography (US) is able to detect subacromial space narrowing in young overhead athletes as early shoulder impingement sign, according to the continuum impingement-instability pathologic model.
Girometti
R
R
Istituto di Radiologia Universitaria, Policlinico Universitario a Gestione Diretta APUGD, Via Colugna 50, I1-33100 Udine, Italy. rgirometti@sirm.org
De Candia
A
A
Sbuelz
M
M
Toso
F
F
Zuiani
C
C
Bazzocchi
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001490:Basketball / Q000293:injuries*; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography