EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL FINDING IN PATIENT WITH ROTATOR CUFF TEAR USING ULTRASOUND

Background: A prevalent issue that can provide challenging diagnostic and treatment issues for the family doctor is shoulder discomfort. In the general population, it is the third most prevalent musculoskeletal complaint, and it makes about 5% of all musculoskeletal consultations with general practitioners. Aim of the study: To evaluate patients with symptoms of rotator cuff clinically and then by ultrasound, and evaluate the results of clinical examination in correlation to ultrasonographic finding. Patients and methods: From February 2011 to July 2013, a seventy patient was subjected to prospective comparative study in AL-Mosul teaching hospital, and of these seventy patients 58 of them found to have supraspinatus tear. Results: The results of clinical examination were compared to the results of ultra-sonographic examination. The history and physical examination show that the rotator cuff tear more common in male patients (68.5%), especially those under forty years of age (65.7%), with predilection to the dominant side (72.2%). It is more common in those with sedentary work like employees (86.5%), the history of trauma is present in (81.5%) of the patients. Our study found that 82.8% of patients had rotator cuff tears, as validated by ultrasound scanning. Conclusion: Unlike radiation, ultrasound is non-invasive, safe, and recognized to pose no risks. In a variety of age groups, rotator cuff tears mostly affect men over forty and more frequently impact the dominant side. Ultrasonography should be performed wherever possible to assist diagnosis and treatment of sore shoulders, although history and clinical examination are crucial in the diagnosis of rotator cuff injuries.