[Ultrasonographic Examination of the Rotator Cuff of the Shoulder: Our Eight-year Experience.]

The authors evaluate their experience with ultrasonographic (USG) examinations of the shoulder they performed in the period between 1992 and 1999. They concentrate mainly on the diagnosis of the lesion of the rotator cuff. They describe methodology of the examination, the used examination positions, instruments and present some pathological findings. They also present possibilities of these diagnostic methods and the indications where the efficiency of its use is limited or zero.They emphasize the necessity of a perfect mastering of the examination technique, a simultaneous clinical examination, x-ray examination and special x-ray projections, if need be. In total they performed 1000 examinations and processed the total number of 762 examinations. Of this number they performed 499 examinations for a suspected rupture of the rotator cuff. They compare the results with per-operative arthroscopic and open revision findings. In this way they processed a group of 78 patients operated on shoulders with preoperative USG. Key words: ultrasonography of shoulder, examination technique, normal and pathological findins.