2003 Volume 27 Issue 3 Pages 567-570
The purpose was to investigate the efficacy of several diagnostic methods to detect superior labrum injuries in throwing shoulder. Fifty-four throwing athletes, who underwent arthroscopic surgery, were prospectively studied. There were superior labrum injuries in twenty-four cases and loose attachment of the superior labrum in six. The efficacy of preoperative diagnostic methods were investigated comparing them with arthroscopic findings of superior labrum injuries. The forced shoulder abduction and elbow flexion test (forced abduction test) was diagnosed as positive, when pain at the postero-superior aspect of the shoulder in forced maximal abduction was reduced or diminished in elbow flexion. The most useful test to detect superior labrum injuries was the forced abduction test, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy was 73%,69%, and 70%, respectively. Loose attachment of the superior labrum significantly increased false positive rate of this method. Forced abduction tests were simple and effective for diagnosis of superior labrum injuries in throwing shoulders.
