Computed Tomography Scan Versus Saline Load Test for Detection of Traumatic Shoulder Arthrotomy: A Cadaveric Study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Radiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Traumatic shoulder arthrotomy (TSA) is a rare injury.
• The saline load test (SLT) is commonly used for TSA detection.
• No studies have evaluated computed tomography (CT) for TSA detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the ability of CT scan to detect TSA.
• To compare the diagnostic performance of CT scan with SLT for TSA.

Main Methods:

• Twelve cadaveric shoulders were included.
• Pre- and post-arthrotomy CT scans were performed to detect intra-articular air.
• Saline load test (SLT) was conducted to assess sensitivity and extravasation volume.

Main Results:

• CT scan detected intra-articular air in 11 out of 12 shoulders (92% sensitivity).
• SLT demonstrated 100% sensitivity for TSA detection.
• The mean saline volume for extravasation was 29 mL (SD 10 mL).

Conclusions:

• CT scan is a sensitive imaging modality for TSA detection (92%).
• SLT is more sensitive (100%) than CT scan for diagnosing TSA in a cadaveric model.
• Further research is needed to define the role of CT imaging in TSA diagnosis.