ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN ASSESSMENT OF ROTATOR CUFF LESIONS

Purpose: The main cause of rotator cuff lesions are traumatic injury and degeneration. Ultrasonography has a proven role in assessing tendons of the rotator cuff. This examination is used to identify and classify pathology, and it can help clinicians in making decisions about ongoing management of the condition. The aim of our study was to evaluate by ultrasonography the structure of the rotator cuff pathology in patients from Northern Caucasus region of Russian Federation.

Methods and Materials: 41 patients (range 21–62 years) were examined. Clinical details in patients were shoulder pain and restriction of active abduction or forward flexion. 26 patients had signs of degenerative joint disease. Standard ultrasonographic exam included dimension of thickness and evaluation of structure of subscapularis, supraspinatus, deltoid muscles and their tendons and also assessment of soft tissues adjacent to the the glenohumeral joint.

Results: Gender analysis showed, that there were 14 females and 29 males; such a proportion is usual for rotator cuff lesions. Our investigation revealed in 38 patients internal and intracapsular partial tendon tears of supraspinatus and subscapularis muscles. In 3 cases partial extracapsular tears were detected; in 11 cases partial tears were accompanied by subdeltoid bursitis and in 19 cases by periarthritis and distinct deltoid muscle atrophy. 18 patients with degenerative changes in shoulder joint had signs of impingement syndrome. In 25 patients, who were younger 40 years the traumatic origin of cuff lesions was found 20 cases (80%) and degenerative – in 5 (20%); in 16 patients older than 40 years – in 3 (18.7%) and 13 (81.3%) cases, respectively (p<.05).

Conclusions: Ultrasonography is an effective tool for assessment of rotator cuff lesions. The structure of pathology in patients from Northern Caucasus region of Russian Federation do not differ significantly from analogous pathology in other countries.