[Diagnostic importance of arthrography of the shoulder in rotator cuff rupture]

Arthrography of the shoulder serves to elucidate pathological changes of rotator cuff of the shoulder. To test the reliability of this method in the diagnosis of rupture of the rotator cuff the author compared 72 preoperative arhtrographies with surgical findings. The double contrast method was applied, using a needle in an oblique direction inserted close under the surface. In ruptures of the whole thickness of the arthrography proved to be a highly sensitive method, in particular in medium-sized and small ruptures, and made it thus possible to select the optimal surgical approach.