[Sonographic diagnosis in shoulder joint instability. Possibilities and limitations]

Ultrasound evaluation expands the possibilities of diagnostic imaging techniques for patients with shoulder instabilities. Static ultrasound investigation documents the acute or chronic dislocated shoulder. Dynamic evaluation demonstrates the direction of instability. Concomitant Hill-Sachs lesions or rotator cuff tears can be diagnosed with high diagnostic accuracy. Clinically relevant documentation of labrum defects (Bankart lesions) by ultrasound is not possible with the technique currently available.