Ultrasound vs. MRI in the assessment of rotator cuff structure prior to shoulder arthroplasty

Christian Alexander Fischer; Marc-André Weber; Clément Neubecker; Thomas Bruckner; Michael Tanner; Felix Zeifang

doi:10.1016/j.jor.2015.01.003

Ultrasound vs. MRI in the assessment of rotator cuff structure prior to shoulder arthroplasty

J Orthop. 2015 Jan 28;12(1):23-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2015.01.003. eCollection 2015 Mar.

Authors

Christian Alexander Fischer¹, Marc-André Weber², Clément Neubecker¹, Thomas Bruckner³, Michael Tanner¹, Felix Zeifang¹

Affiliations

¹ Center for Orthopaedics, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, BW, 69118, Germany.
² Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, BW, 69120, Germany.
³ Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, BW, 69120, Germany.

Abstract

Background/aims: We compared the accuracy of US to 3 T Tesla MRI for the detection of rotator cuff and long biceps tendon pathologies before joint replacement.

Methods: 45 patients were prospectively included.

Results: For the supraspinatus tendon, the accuracy of US when using MRI as reference was 91.1%. For the infraspinatus tendon, the accuracy with MRI as reference was 84.4%. The subscapularis tendon was consistently assessed by US and MRI in 35/45 patients (accuracy 77.8%). For the long biceps tendon the accuracy was 86.7%.

Conclusion: US detection of rotator cuff and biceps tendon integrity is comparable to MRI and should be preferred in revision cases.

Keywords: MRI; Rotator cuff; Shoulder; Supraspinatus; Ultrasound.