[Strict anteroposterior radiography of the shoulder: value of the assessment of rotator cuff tears].

PURPOSE

To compare the contribution of various radiographic projections in the evaluation of impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tears. Materials and method. We realized a prospective study in 53 patients with suspected rotator cuff tear, evaluated by plain radiographs and arthrography (gold standard). 31 patients were men and 22 were women (mean age 51 years). In all patients, anteroposterior radiograph, strict anteroposterior straight-beam decubitus view and anteroposterior radiograph during Leclercq's maneuver of the affected shoulder were obtained. The population was divided into three groups: group 1: normal arthrography (n=19), group 2: isolated supraspinatus tendon tear (n=23), group 3: rupture of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons (n=11). The acromio-humeral space was measured on all these views and differences between the three groups were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

There is a significant statistical difference between the height of the acromio-humeral space found in patients with isolated tear of the supraspinatus tendon and those with a tear extending to the infraspinatus tendon (p=0.0001). The ROC methodology showed a better accuracy of the strict anteroposterior straight-beam decubitus view in cases of wide ruptures of the rotator cuff, and this for a selected threshold value of 6 mm.

CONCLUSION

Strict anteroposterior straight-beam decubitus view, seems to be easy to realize, cheap, reproducible and very powerful in the preoperative assessment of patients with suspected rotator cuff tendon tear. It allows an excellent visualization of the acromioclavicular joint.