Ultrasonography as diagnostic tool in rotator cuff injuries of shoulder

Abstract

Introduction: Rotator Cuff injuries are quite common in adults with or without trauma. These are suspected on clinical history and examination and commonly confirmed by Ultrasonography and MRI of shoulder. This study aims to use Ultrasonography of shoulder as the main diagnostic tool for such injuries. Material and Methods: A total of 30 patients suspected to have complete or incomplete tear of Rotator Cuff were subjected to Clinical Examination of Shoulder including specific tests for Rotator Cuff Muscles, X-ray and Ultrasonography of shoulder. Diagnosis by clinical examination and Ultrasonography was compared. Observation and Results: Out of 30 cases studied, on clinical examination, 10 cases had complete tear of supraspinatus, 19 cases had incomplete tear of supraspinatus with or without subscapularis, and 1 case had isolated subscapularis tear. Ultrasonography noted full thickness tear of supraspinatus in 8 cases, incomplete tear of supraspinatus with or without subscapularis, in 20 cases, bicipital tendinitis in 01 case and subacromial subdeltoid bursitis in 01 case. Conclusion: Ultrasonography confirms the clinical diagnosis of rotator cuff tear with satisfactory sensitivity and specificity. It can be used as a first line diagnostic tool for diagnosis of Rotator cuff tear as it confirms the clinical suspicion and its results are comparable to MRI.