Role of community diagnostic ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of full-thickness rotator cuff tears.

BACKGROUND Diagnostic ultrasound examination has become the most commonly used investigation in Australia for diagnosing rotator cuff tears. The authors felt that the results of such investigations were often inaccurate in their clinical practices. METHODS The diagnostic ultrasound findings in 336 cases were compared to arthrography, and in 225 cases findings at surgery. RESULTS A very poor accuracy rate of 0.38 was found for diagnostic ultrasound examination. The sensitivity was 0.24 and specificity was 0.61. CONCLUSIONS Extreme caution is recommended in the use of diagnostic ultrasound, as currently practised in a general community setting, in diagnosing full-thickness rotator cuff tears.