Radiographic examination of the acute shoulder

Since 1988 the routine shoulder examination at our department has consisted of the anteroposterior projection (AP), the transthoracic projection (TT) and the apical oblique projection (AO). To save discomfort to the patients - including unnecessary X-rays - as well as time and money, we wanted to see, whether one of the projections could be omitted from the primary examination without losing diagnostic information. Retrospectively, 125 acute shoulder examinations were reevaluated - each projection separately - and the findings from the three radiographs of each shoulder compared. In 47 patients the examinations were normal. The remaining 78 patients had a total of 112 lesions. The AO alone showed 17 of 112 lesions (15%) of which eight were isolated lesions. The AO together with the AP presented 111 of 112 lesions, and with a supplementary TT obtained in case of fracture, no lesions were overlooked. Based on this present material and the literature, we recommend that the routine radiographic examination of the acute shoulder includes the AO and the AP, to be supplemented with the TT - or another lateral projection - in case of humeral fracture.