SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF POSTERIOR INSTABILITY AND DISLOCATION OF THE SHOULDER - PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Owing to the exceptional mechanical precariousness of the glenohumeral joint, dislocations and instabilities are common. Because posterior d islocation or instability of the joint occurs infrequently, these abno rmalities may be misdiagnosed on routine radiographic examinations in acute shoulder injuries. We present five patients in whom sonographic examination was used to diagnose posterior shoulder instability (three cases) and posterior shoulder dislocation (two cases). The sonographi c technique demonstrates the presence of instability or dislocation an d permits dynamic examination of the shoulder joint. Ultrasonography e merges as a useful and efficient novel technique for detecting these d isorders. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the technique presented here are currently being determined.