Ultrasonographic Evaluation of the Canine Shoulder

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the canine shoulder. Fourteen shoulders from 7 clinically normal mid-sized dogs were radiographed and imaged using high frequency ultrasound. Each shoulder was isolated postmortem, and the ultrasonographic and gross anatomy was studied during dissection. The ultrasonographic appearance of the shoulder specimens was similar to that found in the live dogs. Twenty-four shoulders isolated postmortem from 12 variably sized dogs were also used to characterize the normal ultrasound anatomy over a range of sizes. Important anatomic structures that could be consistently evaluated were the biceps tendon and bursa, the bicipital groove surface, the supraspinatous tendon, the infraspinatous tendon, the teres minor tendon, and the caudal aspect of the humeral head. Results of ultrasonographic examination of 4 dogs with shoulder lameness are described to illustrate some applications of canine shoulder ultrasonography in the evaluation of the canine shoulder. In these dogs, ultrasound was a valuable tool to evaluate effusion and synovial proliferation within the bicipital bursa, supraspinatous and biceps tendinitis, biceps tendon strain, and dystrophic calcification.

Supraspinatus Tendinopathy in 327 Dogs: A Retrospective Study

“…The most common finding on MRI is enlargement and increased signal in the area of insertion of the supraspinatus tendon over the greater tubercle of the humerus on T2 Weighted Image (T2-W) and STIR sequences (10,32). Diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasonography is a relatively new technique that has been used and validated for the diagnosis of ST in both humans and dogs (8,(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40). Musculoskeletal ultrasound provides a non-invasive definitive diagnosis of ST, and allows for facile and cost-effective sequential exams to assess response to treatment (8,(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40).…”

Diagnostic ultrasonography of the shoulder in dogs – scan techniques and common findings

“…It has a wide range of applications in musculoskeletal evaluations, such as those of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and tarsus, and several tendons and muscles have been examined using this technique. Its diagnostic sensitivity is comparable to that of MRI and arthroscopy, depending on the analyzed region (KRAMER et al, 1997(KRAMER et al, , 1999LONG, NYLAND, 1999;RICHARDS et al, 2001;LAMB;WONG, 2005;ROCHA;TORRES, 2007;COOK, 2009). …”

Tendinose do supra-espinhoso em cães

“…Embora estudos prévios tenham indicado ser a ultrassonografia relativamente insensível (RIVERS; WALLACE; JOHNSTON, 1992), com o advento de transdutores de melhor resolução, a técnica provou proporcionar muitas informações em investigações de injúrias de tecidos moles do ombro. A ultrassonografia músculo-esquelética é amplamente utilizada em seres humanos, particularmente em avaliações do ombro, e tem mostrado crescente valor na rotina de pequenos animais (STILES; OTTE, 1993;TYSON, 1995;KRAMER et al, 1997KRAMER et al, , 2001LONG;NYLAND, 1999;BRUCE et al, 2000;TEEFEY et al, 2000;IANNOTTI et al, 2005).…”

“…Como descrito por muitos autores, tendões e tecidos circujacentes são melhores avaliados com transdutores lineares de, no mínimo, 7,5 e 10 MHz com o animal sob anestesia geral ou sedação profunda, pois o exame inclui avaliação em posições de repouso e dinâmicas, por vezes desconfortáveis (KRAMER et al, 1997(KRAMER et al, , 2001LONG;NYLAND, 1999).…”

“…Embora a técnica seja amplamente empregada na medicina e considerada de escolha em avaliação de tendões e ligamentos, nenhum outro trabalho relacionando avaliação de tendinose do supra-espinhoso em cães por meio de ressonância magnética foi encontrado e sua aplicação ainda é limitada pelo alto custo (LONG;NYLAND, 1999;ZLATKIN, 2006). Na prática, utiliza-se a radiografia simples em projeção médio lateral do ombro como exame de triagem.…”