Shoulder arthrography for determination of size of rotator cuff tear

One hundred eight shoulder arthrograms were performed in 105 patients who subsequently underwent surgical repair of a rotator cuff tear. Eighty-seven were single-contrast arthrograms and 21 were double-contrast studies; three or more views were used for all shoulders. Four readers independently evaluated the arthrograms (two orthopaedic surgeons and two radiologists). The size of the rotator cuff tear could be categorized into one of four groups with accuracy in only 56% of the cases; however, the fear size was identified with accuracy or within one size category in 96% of the shoulders studied.