Regional sonology of the upper limb - I: Shoulder

Abstract

Knowledge of the anatomy of the shoulder and its periarticular soft tissues and scanning techniques are essential for successful ultrasound (US) examination of the shoulder. Inflammatory conditions or overuse injuries affecting the periarticular structures are the most common causes of nontraumatic shoulder pain. Dynamic imaging with US is an added advantage and scores over similar cross-sectional imaging modalities. In a routine US examination of the shoulder joint, the extraarticular segment of the long head of biceps, rotator-cuff tendons and their muscle bellies, rotator interval, subacromial-subdeltoid bursa, posterior joint recess, and the acromioclavicular joint are assessed systematically.