[Evaluation with ultrasound and arthro-ultrasonography of complete rotator cuff rupture]

Shoulder ultrasonography is revised in the evaluation of complete rotator cuff tears. Also another technique known as artro-ultrasonography, which consist of a 10 mL solution injection inside the articular capsule to observe its escape to the subacromial-subdeltoidea bursae which implicates rotator cuff tear. It is compared against multiple standards like surgery, magnetic resonance, arthrography and rehabilitation to include positive and negative cases.

181 consecutive cases were studied with ultrasonography, 27 with artro-ultrasonography. The criteria for tear is the absence of the hyper-ecogenicity in the tendon, hypo-ecogenic gaps inside the rotator cuff and distention of the bursae due to the presence of liquid.

69% sensibility and 71% specificity for ultrasonography. 92% sensibility and specificity for artro-ultrasonography. The area under the COR curve is 70% for ultrasonography and 93% for artro-ultrasonography. The artro-ultrasonography modified the diagnosis in nine cases, the majority from normal to tear. Three Radiologists proved the agreement with good results.

The study contributes to evaluate the performance of ultrasound against multiple standards to correct the great variability in results observed in literature. The contribution of artro-ultrasonography to diagnosis is evaluated. It can be useful in places where accuracy is important and more sophisticated methods like magnetic resonance are not available.