抄録
Background: 3 dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS) of the supraspinatus(SSp) tendon and its operative findings were examined to evaluate the usefulness of 3DUS of the SSp tendon.
Methods: 19 patients complaining of shoulder pain were operated on after performing 3DUS on the involved shoulder. There were 14 males and 5 females, right side was involved in 11 shoulders, left in 8. The age at examination was 55.8 years old on the average (18-77). 3DUS of SSp tendon was made by rendering the images of 2DUSs. 3DUs were classified into 4 types by their sagittal shape; convex, irregular, flat and defect type. The SSp tendons were classified into 4 types by its appearance found at operation, no tear, partial tear, complete tear and massive tear (more than 3 tendons were involved.). The findings of 3DUS and operations were compared.
Results: 7 shoulders with convex type of 3DUS included not tear: 4, very small partial tear: 1 and complete tear: 2 (One was a longitudinal tear between SSp and ISp tendon). 7 shoulders with flat types included partial tear: 3, complete: 3 and massive:1. 5 shoulders with defect type revealed 4 tears and 1 massive tear. The SSp tendons with convex type accompanied no tear tendons compared with the other types(P=0.02 Kruskal-Wallis test). All the SSp tendons without convex type were verified as having some tendon tear.
Discussion: In spite of mechanical and technical difficulties, 3 DUS is a useful tool for detecting the cuff pathology, accompanied by 2DUS.
