[The value of the anamnesis for the probability diagnosis of shoulder pain].

The response to pain of the shoulder in different diseases and injuries in this joint is uniform and this is of very little help in recognizing the cause. A detailed case history is useful in delineating the differential diagnosis. We have therefore developed a questionnaire consisting of 55 specifically aimed questions to these case histories. The acquired information was specifically rated for the 24 most frequent shoulderillnesses/injuries, and integrated in a computer program. In 55.4% of the cases the computer predicted the correct diagnosis and in 80% of the cases the right diagnosis was suggested amongst the first 3 preferences of the differential diagnosis.