Sonography of the rotator cuff in painful shoulders performed without knowledge of clinical information: results from 58 sonographic examinations with surgical correlation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of sonography as an isolated diagnostic test for the detection and quantification of rotator cuff tears.


METHODS
Preoperative sonographic examination was performed on 58 shoulders. Key biases on sonographic interpretation such as history-taking, physical examination, or concurrent imaging examinations were excluded by way of blinding. Tears of the rotator cuff were the positive findings of interest. Assessment of tear size and localization was done sonographically, and the results were compared with operative findings.


RESULTS
All 24 full-thickness tears observed at surgery had been diagnosed correctly via sonography. In 19 of 20 cases with an intact rotator cuff, preoperative sonography was negative. Thirteen of 14 partial-thickness tears were not detected via sonography; 1 was misinterpreted as a full-thickness tear. Location of the tears relative to the rotator cuff tendons was described correctly in 21 of 25 cases. For tear size measurement, the 95% range of agreement was less than +/-1 cm.


CONCLUSIONS
Blinded sonographic examination is effective in the detection and quantification of full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff but lacks sensitivity in the detection of partial-thickness tears.
Moosmayer
Stefan
S
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Martina Hansen's Hospital, PB 23, 1306 Baerum Postterminal, Norway.
Heir
Stig
S
Smith
Hans-Jørgen
HJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography