Jobe Test Research Articles

Activation patterns of rotator-cuff muscles from quantitative IVIM DWI after physical testing

BackgroundThe diagnostic value of clinical rotator cuff (RC) tests is controversial, with only sparse evidence available about their anatomical specificity. We prospectively assessed regional RC muscle activation patterns by means of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after the execution of common clinical RC tests.MethodsTen healthy subjects (five males, five females) underwent three sessions of diffusion-weighted 3-T shoulder MRI before and after testing the supraspinatus (SSP, Jobe test, session 1), subscapularis (SSC, lift-off test, session 2, at least 1 week later), and infraspinatus muscle (ISP, external rotation test, session 3, another week later). IVIM parameters (perfusion fraction, f; pseudo-diffusion coefficient. D*; and their product, fD*) were measured in regions of interest placed in images of the SSP, SSC, ISP, and deltoid muscle. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for group comparisons; p-values were adjusted using the Bonferroni correction.ResultsAfter all tests, fD* was significantly increased in the respective target muscles (SSP, SSC, or ISP; p ≤ 0.001). After SSP testing, an additional significant increase of fD* was observed in the deltoid, the SSC, and the ISP muscle (p < 0.001). After the SSC and ISP tests, no significant concomitant increase of any parameter was observed in the other RC muscles.ConclusionIVIM revealed varying activation patterns of RC muscles for different clinical RC tests. For SSP testing, coactivation of the deltoid and other RC muscles was observed, implying limited anatomical specificity, while the tests for the SSC and ISP specifically activated their respective target muscle.Relevance statementFollowing clinical RC tests, IVIM MRI revealed that SSP testing led to shoulder muscle coactivation, while the SSC and ISP tests specifically activated the target muscles.Key PointsIn this study, intravoxel incoherent motion MRI depicted muscle activation following clinical rotator cuff tests.After supraspinatus testing, coactivation of surrounding shoulder girdle muscles was observed.Subscapularis and infraspinatus tests exhibited isolated activation of their respective target muscles.Graphical

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome, A Common Shoulder Disease: A Comprehensive Review

The shoulder joint is a flexible but unstable joint in the human body. Also, it has complex structures including coracoacromial arch, synovial bursa, head of femur and so on. Based on these traits, shoulder joints have a wide range of activity, but some lesions accompany with, especially some overhand motions like throwing baseball, swimming, lifting the weight above head repetitively. Diversification of pathogenic factors are significant traits of this kind of injury. In addition, lesions of shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) can occur in multiple locations even happening at same time. Under normal conditions, this type of disease is often delimited by rotator cuff. Because of the complexity of this injury, different tests of diagnosis can be applied, including Hawkins-Kennedy test, Neer sign, Jobe test, Painful arc of motion. For treatment options, these can be divided into conservative treatment including conservative methods and surgical treatment like arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD). SIS causes shoulder pain to disrupt and reduce life’s quality of patients. Based on relevant research and literature, this article is designed to offer a general review of the above content.

Longitudinal Analysis of the ASES and Constant-Murley Scores, and the Internal Rotation/Shift and Jobe Tests Following Arthroscopic Repair of Supraspinatus Lesions.

It is essential to investigate patients post-surgery using functional surveys like the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder (ASES) and the Constant-Murley shoulder (CMS) scores, as well as clinical tests, such as the Internal Rotation and Shift (IRO/Shift) and Jobe tests. In this study, 51 out of an initial 87 patients underwent an arthroscopic supraspinatus repair (22 single-row, 16 double-row, 13 debridement). Testing occurred pre-surgery, and 3 and 6 months post-surgery. Both surveys showed significant improvements over time among all 87 patients, but there were no differences between groups (lesion/no lesion) (p > 0.815) or time × group (p > 0.895). The IRO/Shift test showed a stronger ability to distinguish between both groups (positive vs. negative) with respect to the ASES and CMS scores over time, but the Jobe test did not (p > 0.100). Improvements in the CMS scores and the Jobe test were lower following repair compared to the ASES and IRO/Shift test. Most patients returned to adequate levels of functional abilities at 6 months post-surgery. The time required to return to activities of daily living and negative clinical tests was longer for the double-row repair patients compared to the single-row and debridement groups. In conclusion, both the functional surveys and the clinical tests demonstrated improvements following surgery.

Reliability of the Single-Arm and Double-Arm Jobe Test for the Diagnosis of Full-Thickness Supraspinatus Tendon Tear.

The Jobe test is commonly used to diagnose full-thickness (FT) supraspinatus (SSP) tendon tear. The original Jobe test used single-arm testing, although the double-arm Jobe test has also been used in clinical practice. To evaluate the reliability, accuracy, and diagnostic value of the single-arm and double-arm Jobe test for diagnosis of FT SSP tear. Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Patients with shoulder pain requiring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the shoulder between March 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, were enrolled. Each patient underwent both single-arm and double-arm Jobe tests by 2 orthopaedic surgeons independently, and the presence of pain, weakness, or both during the test was documented. Diagnosis of FT SSP tear on MRI scan was used as the gold standard to compare the diagnostic value of the Jobe test. The interrater reliability of the Jobe test, and the inter- and intrarater reliability of the MRI evaluation (patients with vs without FT SSP tear) was performed using the kappa (κ) coefficient. A total of 80 patients (57 females [71%]; mean age, 61.46 ± 9.61 years) were included. MRI scans revealed FT SSP tears in 32 (40%) of the patients. Both single- and double-arm Jobe tests had low diagnostic values (accuracy, 46.25% to 60%; sensitivity, 46.9% to 84.4%; specificity, 25% to 66.7%). The single-arm test with weakness revealed the highest sensitivity (84.4%). The double-arm test with weakness plus pain revealed the highest specificity (66.7%). Double-arm testing with pain had the highest accuracy (60%), with the highest positive likelihood ratio (1.5). The interrater reliability of the Jobe test indicated substantial agreement (double-arm vs single-arm, κ = 0.771 and 0.716, respectively, agreement 85%; P < .05). The interrater reliability of MRI scan evaluation of the FT SSP tear indicated substantial agreement (κ = 0.750, agreement 85%; P < .05), while the intrarater reliability indicated almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.917, agreement 96%; P < .05). The Jobe test, either single- or double-arm, had low accuracy and diagnostic value in diagnosing FT SSP tear. The concern with a single-arm examination for weakness is that it may be an inappropriate diagnostic test for ruling out FT SSP with 84% sensitivity, while a double-arm examination provides a higher specificity.

Machine learning model successfully identifies important clinical features for predicting outpatients with rotator cuff tears.

The aim of this study is to develop a machine learning model to identify important clinical features related to rotator cuff tears (RCTs) using explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) for efficiently predicting outpatients with RCTs. A retrospective review of a local clinical registry dataset was performed to include patients with shoulder pain and dysfunction who underwent questionnaires and physical examinations between 2019 and 2022. RCTs were diagnosed by shoulder arthroscopy. Six machine-learning algorithms (Stacking, Gradient Boosting Machine, Bagging, Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boost (XGBoost), and Adaptive Boosting) were developed for the prediction. The performance of the models was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), Brier scores, and Decision curve. The interpretability of the predicted outcomes was evaluated using Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) values. A total of 1684 patients who completed questionnaires and clinical tests were included, and 417 patients with RCTs underwent shoulder arthroscopy. In six machining learning algorithms for predicting RCTs, the accuracy, AUC values, and Brier scores were in the range of 0.81-0.86, 0.75-0.92, and 0.15-0.19, respectively. The XGBoost model showed superior performance with accuracy, AUC, and Brier scores of 0.85(95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.87), 0.92 (95% confidence interval,0.90-0.94), and 0.15 (95% confidence interval,0.14-0.16), respectively. The Shapley plot showed the impact of the clinical features on predicting RCTs. The most important variables were Jobe test, Bear hug test, and age for prediction, with mean SHAP values of 1.458, 0.950, and 0.790, respectively. The machine learning model successfully identified important clinical variables for predicting patients with RCTs. In addition, the best algorithm was also integrated into a digital application to provide predictions in outpatient settings. This tool may assist patients in reducing their pain experience and providing prompt treatments. Level III.

A Longitudinal Analysis of the Internal Rotation and Shift (IRO/Shift) Test Following Arthroscopic Repair of Superior Rotator Cuff Lesions.

Although the use of clinical tests to diagnose superior rotator cuff pathology is common, there is paucity in the research regarding the accuracy of such tests following arthroscopic repair. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of the IRO/Shift test compared to the Jobe test at 3 months and 6 months post-surgery for superior rotator cuff repair. Arthroscopic repair was conducted on 51 patients who were subsequently seen for clinical evaluation at 3 and 6 months following surgery. At 3 months post-surgery only 27% of the patients had a negative IRO/Shift test and 18% had a negative Jobe test. However, at 6 months 88% of the patients presented with a negative IRO/Shift test and 61% a negative Jobe test. When compared to each other, the IRO/Shift test and the Jobe test had 90% agreement pre-operatively, 71% agreement at 3 months post-surgery, and 67% agreement at 6 months. These results demonstrate that the accuracy of the IRO/Shift test and the Jobe test improved between 3 and 6 months following arthroscopic surgery of the superior rotator cuff, with the IRO/Shift test having better accuracy.

Diagnostic Value of Clinical Tests in Patients with Rotator Cuff Arthropathy

Relevance. There are a large number of clinical tests for the diagnosis of rotator cuff tendon injuries and their consequences. Timely collected anamnesis and a thorough clinical examination are the key to an accurate diagnosis and the choice of treatment tactics.&#x0D; Objective: to determine the diagnostic value of clinical tests in patients with rotator cuff arthropathy.&#x0D; Materials and Methods. Clinical examination and surgical treatment of 110 patients with pathology of the shoulder joint, who had limited or complete lack of movement in the shoulder joint. The study of clinical results was performed in 2 groups: group I (60 patients) with rotator cuff arthropathy and group II (50 patients) with osteonecrosis of the humeral head. All patients were examined according to a single standard (clinical, radiological, and MRI examination). The clinical examination was performed in the standard way with special tests: the Jobe test, the Neer test, the Full can test, the Patte test, the Lift-off test, and the Hawkins-Kennedy test.&#x0D; Results and Conclusions. As a result of the analysis of clinical research data in patients with rotator cuff arthropathy, it was established that the clinical picture was distinguished by the polymorphism of manifestations and was closely related to undiagnosed damage to the structures of the shoulder joint. In patients with rotator cuff arthropathy, the most informative tests were (1) the Lift-off test: sensitivity (95.45%), specificity (73.33%), accuracy (86.49%), positive predictive value (PVP) (84.00%) and negative predictive value (PVN) (91.67%), and (2) the Full can test: sensitivity (89.80%), specificity (72.50%), accuracy (82.02%), as well as PVP (80.00%) and PVN (85.29%). In patients with rotator cuff arthropathy, the pain syndrome remained in most cases, which increased the sensitivity of the Lift-off test to 95.45% and the Full can test to 89.80%. The least specific clinical tests in patients with rotator cuff arthropathy were the Patte test (63.83%) and the Hawkins-Kennedy test (58.82%). No clinical test is reliable enough to diagnose rotator cuff arthropathy or osteonecrosis.

IRO/Shift Test Is Comparable to the Jobe Test for Detection of Supraspinatus Lesions.

To determine how the internal rotation and shift (IRO/shift) test compares to the gold standard of clinical tests (Jobe test) for diagnosing supraspinatus lesions and to confirm these clinical results with surgical findings, 100 symptomatic patients were clinically examined between October 2018 and November 2019. All 100 patients were evaluated using both the IRO/shift test and Jobe test. A total of 48 of these patients received surgical intervention. Based on these data, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy for both the IRO/shift test and Jobe test were calculated. The IRO/shift test had a sensitivity of 96% (95% CI: 82–100%), specificity of 50% (95% CI: 27–73%), PPV of 73% (95% CI: 56–86%), NPV of 91% (95% CI: 59–100%), and an accuracy of 77% (95% CI: 63–88%). The Jobe test had a sensitivity of 89% (95% CI: 72–98%), specificity of 60% (95% CI: 36–81%), PPV of 76% (95% CI: 58–89%), NPV of 80% (95% CI: 52–96%), and an accuracy of 77% (95% CI: 54–81%). These results suggest that the IRO/shift test is comparable to the Jobe test, which is often viewed as the gold standard clinical examination for assessing supraspinatus lesions. This study was approved by the Ethics Commission of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (reference number: 2018-05).

Diagnostic Dilemma: Which Clinical Tests Are Most Accurate for Diagnosing Supraspinatus Muscle Tears and Tendinosis When Compared to Magnetic Resonance Imaging?

Background: The study aims to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of five clinical shoulder tests in the diagnosis of supraspinatus tears and tendinosis when compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Methods: A total of 116 shoulders of 106 consecutive patients who experienced shoulder pain were assessed for this cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study. Patients were assessed with the most commonly used clinical shoulder tests, including the Jobe test (empty can), Neer test, drop arm test, Hawkins test, and full can test to identify supraspinatus tears and tendinosis. MRI examinations were performed on a 1.5 Tesla MRI system, and images were assessed by a blinded radiologist. The primary outcomes were to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the five clinical tests and to establish their correlation with MRI for supraspinatus tears and tendinosis.Results: The Hawkins test had a higher sensitivity and accuracy when diagnosing tears (sensitivity 89.66% [95% CI, 78.83-96.11] and accuracy 56.03% [95% CI, 46.51-65.23], respectively) and higher sensitivity in tendinosis (79.07% [95% CI, 63.96-89.96]). The drop arm test had a lower sensitivity but higher specificity in both tendinosis and tears (sensitivity 0% [95% CI, 0-8.22] and 12.07% [95% CI, 4.99-23.29], respectively, and specificity 87.67% [95% CI, 77.88-94.21] and 96.5% [95% CI, 88.09-99.58], respectively). The Neer test had a higher positive predictive value (PPV) of 37.21% in diagnosing tendinosis. When compared to the Hawkins test, the combination of the clinical tests had no statistically significant contribution to sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy.Conclusion: The Hawkins test had higher accuracy in diagnosing tears and was the most sensitive in diagnosing supraspinatus tendinosis and tears when compared to the MRI findings. The Neer test may also be another reliable tool for the diagnosis of tendinosis due to its higher PPV.

Correlation of Physical Examination with Arthroscopic Findings in the Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tear.

Objective To compare clinical data from the physical examination with arthroscopic findings in rotator cuff rupture. Methods A total of 177 patients submitted to arthroscopic treatment of rotator cuff rupture were selected, and arthroscopic findings were compared with physical examination. Results The impingement tests showed high sensitivity for rotator cuff rupture. Among the strength tests, the most sensitive was the Patte test (85.7%), and the one with the highest positive predictive value (PPV) was the Jobe test (95%). The Drop Sign test showed higher specificity and negative predictive value (NPV) (98.7 and 95.9%, respectively). Patients with a history of trauma were 3.5 times more likely to have a positive Lift Off test. Conclusion The impingement tests had high sensitivity for rotator cuff ruptures. The Jobe test showed similar sensitivity among patients who had partial or total supraspinal injury. For complete lesions of the subscapularis, The Lift Off and Belly Press tests showed high sensitivity and specificity.

Diagnostic value of physical examination tests for supraspinatus tendon tears

To investigate the diagnostic value of 6 conventional physical examination tests for the diagnosis of supraspinatus tendon tears, and how well they could tell the difference between partial-and full-thickness tears. A total of 91 patients with different shoulder symptoms who received shoulder arthroscopic procedure were enrolled in the study from June 2017 to September 2020. The intraoperative findings were compared with the results of the preoperative physical examination of 6 clinical tests, including the Hug-up test, the Jobe test, the 0°abduction test, the drop arm test, the Neer test, and the Hawkins test, to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, accuracy, positive and negative likelihood ratio of each test. By arthroscopy, a total of 44 full-thickness tears, 34 partial-thickness tears, and 13 intact supraspinatus tendons were found in all 91 cases. The Hug-up and the Jobe tests significantly correlated with the intraoperative findings. The sensitivity of the Hug-up test, the Jobe test, the 0° abduction test, the drop arm test, the Neer test, and the Hawkins test was 0.90, 0.79, 0.64, 0.42, 0.49, 0.24 respectively;the specificity was 0.61, 0.69, 0.54, 0.38, 0.31, 0.77;the positive predictive value was 0.93, 0.94, 0.89, 0.80, 0.81, 0.86;the negative predictive value was 0.50, 0.36, 0.20, 0.10, 0.09, 0.14;the accuracy was 0.86, 0.78, 0.63, 0.42, 0.46, 0.32;the positive likelihood ratio was 2.30, 2.58, 1.39, 0.69, 0.71, 1.06;and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.16, 0.30, 0.67, 1.50, 1.65, 0.98. The Jobe test and the Hug-up test are both effective at accurately diagnosing supraspinatus tendon tears, the Hug-up test detects supraspinatus tears with a high sensitivity, and similar specificity. The tests assessed in this study are not capable of distinguish between partial-and full thickness supraspinatus tendon tears.

Correlation between preoperative clinical examination and intraoperatively found subscapularis tendon tear.

Analyze the diagnostic value for subscapularis (SSC) tendon tears, their correlation between pain and strength on clinical tests, and compare them with intraoperative arthroscopic findings to prove their diagnostic value. 110 consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were reviewed and allocated to isolated SSC (n = 39) and combined anterosuperior tendon tear (n = 71) groups and analyzed. Preoperative clinical testing included belly press (BPT), bear hug (BHT), lift-off (LOT), palm-up (PUT), and Jobe test (JT). All tests were performed in two categories: pain (in 4 categories: 0, 5, 10, and 15) and strength (from 0 to 5). The tendon tears were intraoperatively reviewed and classified. Mean age was 59years (SD 10). The sensitivity of the BHT was 88.2% and 74.5% for BPT, while specificity was only 41.9% for BHT and 45% for BPT. Sensitivity of JT was 90.5% and 87.5% for PUT, while specificity was only 41% for JT and 28.2% for PUT. A low positive correlation for an intraoperative SSC lesion and the strength of BPT (Spearman rank correlation - 0.425; p value < 0.0001) and the strength of BHT ( - 0.362; p value = 0.001) could be found. With linear regression analysis estimated by ordinary least squares, a correlation between BPT strength and surgical grade of SSC lesion (- 0.528; 95% CI, - 0.923 to - 0.133; pvalue < 0.01) was found. The BHT showed a higher sensitivity for a SSC lesion, while the BPT had a higher correlation between preoperative testing, most notably internal rotation strength, and intraoperative surgical grade of the SSC tendon lesion. Level II, Prospective cohort study for Diagnostic tests.

Repair of Lafosse I subscapularis injury adds no additional value in anterosuperior rotator cuff injury

BackgroundThe study aimed to explore the additional value of repair of Lafosse I subscapularis injury compared with debridement in anterosuperior rotator cuff injury.MethodsThe prospective study was conducted on a total of 41 patients with supraspinatus tendon tear combined with Lafosse I subscapularis injury. Eighteen patients were divided into the repair group and 23 patients were divided into the non-repair group. The two groups were compared for intraoperative parameters, pain score, range of motion of the shoulder joint, shoulder joint function and quality of life (QoL) at pre-operation, 3 and 6 months postoperatively and the final follow-up visit.ResultsThe width of supraspinatus tendon tear did not exceed 3 cm and did not retract beyond the glenoid in among patients. There was no statistical difference of preoperative data between two groups, including age, course of disease, positive Jobe test, positive Bear-hug test, positive Lift-off test, Patte stage, longitudinal tear and pain severity (P > 0.05). Compared to preoperative levels, the severity of pain, ASES scores and EQ-5D-3L scores were significantly lower at 3 and 6 months postoperatively and the final position (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in pain severity, ASES scores and EQ-5D-3L scores between repair group and non-repair group (P > 0.05). Similarly, compared to preoperative levels, the range of motion of shoulder joint was significantly improved after operation, including internal rotation, external rotation, forward flexion and elevation (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in range of motion of shoulder joint between repair group and non-repair group (P > 0.05).ConclusionOperative treatment can effectively lessen severity of pain in the patients, improve shoulder joint function, increase the range of motion of the shoulder joint and enhance the QoL in treating anterosuperior rotator cuff injury. However, repair of subscapularis brings no benefit compared to debridement in treating supraspinatus tendon tear combined with Lafosse I subscapularis injury.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Common Physical Examination Maneuvers for Supraspinatus Tendinopathy in Wheelchair Users With Paraplegia

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of selected physical examination procedures in identifying supraspinatus tears using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a reference criteria in wheelchair users with chronic paraplegia. <h3>Design</h3> Cross-sectional. <h3>Setting</h3> Three SCI Model Systems (SCIMS) Centers. <h3>Participants</h3> 62 full-time manual wheelchair users with chronic paraplegia (104 shoulders; average age 41.1±11.7; average injury duration 12.5±9.9; average BMI 25.4±9.9; 19.4% female). <h3>Interventions</h3> N/A. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Presence or absence of supraspinatus tears, diagnosed by MRI[1]; physical examinations for supraspinatus pathology, including supraspinatus palpation over the greater tuberosity[2], painful arc[3], Neer's test[4], Jobe's test[5], and resisted external rotation (ER); diagnostic statistics including sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, positive and negative predictive values. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to determine the area under the curve [AUC]. <h3>Results</h3> A positive Jobe's test, greater tuberosity palpation, and resisted ER produced the highest positive likelihood ratios (between 3.0 and 4.1), yet sensitivities were low (0.33-0.50). The ROC curve suggested the optimal threshold to detect a supraspinatus tear was one or more of the following positive tests: Jobe's, tendon palpation, ER, painful arc (sensitivity=0.67, specificity=0.074). The ROC curve with these four tests yielded an AUC of 0.72. When Neer's was included, the AUC was 0.70. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The findings from this study indicate no single test was best to screen for supraspinatus tears in this sample. Presence of one or more positive physical examination tests yielded the best accuracy. The low prevalence of tears among this sample could have negatively affect the power to determine sensitivity. Future studies should aim to include a larger proportion of individuals with tears to better determine sensitivity of the tests. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> The authors have nothing to disclose.

Application Value of Magnetic Resonance Arthrography of the Shoulder in Nursing and Diagnosis of Patients with Shoulder Joint Injury.

Supraspinatus tendon injury is a common clinical shoulder joint disease and is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain and dysfunction. Supraspinatus tendon injury will lead to articular cartilage injury and degeneration, then cause joint disease, seriously affect the quality of life of patients, and bring a huge burden to the family and society. This paper mainly studies and evaluates the application value of special signs of shoulder joint and indirect MR imaging in the diagnosis of supraspinatus tendon injury. Through a series of special examinations for the diagnosis of supraspinatus tendon injury in 90 patients, including zero degree abduction resistance test, arm drop test, Jobe test, Neer sign, and Hawkins sign, all patients in the study underwent indirect magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder joint. Finally, arthroscopic examination results were used as the “gold standard” to evaluate and analyze the diagnosis. The results showed that among the special signs, the specificity of the falling-arm test was the highest (72.2%) in the diagnosis of full-thickness supraspinatus tendon injury. Hawkins sign had the highest sensitivity (84.0%). In the diagnosis of partial supraspinatus tendon injury, the specificity of the Jobe test was the highest, which was 66.6%. The Neer sign had the highest sensitivity of 50.0%. In the diagnosis of full-thickness supraspinatus tendon injury, there was no significant difference in sensitivity between indirect MRI and Hawkins sign, but the diagnostic specificity of indirect MRI was higher than that of special sign examination. In the diagnosis of partial supraspinatus tendon injury, the sensitivity and specificity of indirect MR imaging are higher than those of special sign examination.

Impact of Body Mass Index on the Accuracy of Physical Examination and MRI of the Shoulder.

Background:The physical examination of overweight patients can require specific adaptations. Orthopaedic literature on the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the physical examination of the shoulder is virtually nonexistent.Purpose:To assess whether BMI affects the sensitivity and specificity of common shoulder tests, using arthroscopy as a gold standard. We also examined the effects of BMI on the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the shoulder for reference.Study Design:Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.Methods:We analyzed the data of 116 consecutive patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy for the treatment of rotator cuff tears, Bankart lesions, and superior labral anterior-posterior (SLAP) lesions. Preoperative BMI, physical examination of the shoulder findings, and MRI findings were extracted. Contingency tables and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of provocative tests of the shoulder and MRI as well as their relationship to BMI.Results:The sensitivity and specificity of the Jobe supraspinatus test were 77.8% and 72.7% in patients with BMI ≤25, 82.6% and 70.6% in those with 25 < BMI ≤ 30, and 81.3% and 55.6% in those with BMI >30, respectively (P < .001). The apprehension and relocation tests demonstrated higher sensitivity and specificity for the overweight patients (25 < BMI ≤ 30) compared with the other BMI groups, with a sensitivity and specificity of 83.3% and 100% for the apprehension test and a sensitivity and specificity of 75% and 100% for the relocation test, respectively. The O’Brien, Speed, and Ebinger tests for SLAP tears had low accuracy and did not yield statistically significant results. MRI interpretation was found to be influenced by BMI in obese patients, especially when SLAP lesions were assessed.Conclusion:Counterintuitively, tests for shoulder instability had greater specificity in overweight patients and should be encouraged, particularly in obese patients, in whom the specificity of shoulder MRI for the detection of a Bankart lesion is lower. The Jobe test was more sensitive but less specific in overweight patients. These findings may assist care providers in improving the interpretation of the shoulder examination of overweight patients and consequently lead to better treatment-related decisions.

Reliable diagnosis of posterosuperior rotator cuff tears requires a combination of clinical tests.

Clinical diagnosis of posterosuperior rotator cuff tears remains uncertain due to a lack of evidence-based consensus. This review aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of commonly used clinical tests for posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. The authors conducted an electronic literature search using Medline, Embase and the Cochrane library/Central, to identify original clinical studies reporting diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests to diagnose the presence of posterosuperior rotator cuff tears involving the infraspinatus, supraspinatus and/or teres minor. The electronic literature search returned 1981 records, of which 14 articles were eligible. Among 17 tests included in the systematic review, 6 tests were eligible for meta-analysis: drop arm sign, Jobe test, external rotation lag sign, Hawkins-Kennedy test, Neer test and painful arc abduction test. According to QUADAS-2 criteria, risk of bias was low in 1 study, moderate in 2 and high in 4. The highest pooled sensitivity was 0.77 (CI 0.67-0.85), for the Jobe test, while the lowest pooled sensitivity was 0.38 (CI 0.01-0.98), for the drop arm sign. The Jobe test had the best pooled sensitivity, while the drop arm sign had the best pooled specificity. As no single clinical test is sufficiently reliable to diagnose posterosuperior rotator cuff tears, clinicians should consider various combinations of patient characteristics and clinical tests, as well as imaging modalities, to confirm diagnosis and select the appropriate treatment option. More reliable clinical diagnosis of posterosuperior rotator cuff tears could reduce the reliance on magnetic resonance imaging or arthrography and their associated costs and waiting times. Level II.

Arthroscopic Double-Layer Lasso Loop Technique to Repair Delaminated Rotator Cuff Tears

To evaluate the arthroscopic double-layer lasso loop repair technique for delaminated posterosuperior rotator cuff tears. Forty-one patients underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair of a delaminated posterosuperior rotator cuff tear by the double-layer lasso loop technique. Their preoperative and postoperative clinical and functional scores were compared to evaluate surgical outcomes. The prerequisite for inclusion was a minimum follow-up period of 2years. We excluded patients with a history of shoulder surgery before the double-layer lasso loop repair. Statisticallysignificant improvements (P < .001) were found in the Constant score (54 vs 83) and University of California, Los Angeles functional score (6.4 vs 9.5). Pain and strength improved according to the Jobe test, bear-hug test, belly-press test, Gerber lift-off test, and external rotation test (P < .001). No significant difference in strength was noted between the operated and nonoperated sides. There was only 1 complete rerupture (3.1%), whereas 5 patients (15.6%) had partial ruptures. The arthroscopic double-layer lasso loop repair technique for delaminated posterosuperior rotator cuff tears is an effective procedure. Our series showed a low rerupture rate. At a mean follow-up of 44months, postoperative recovery with resultant functional, pain, and patient satisfaction scores was good to excellent and was comparable with the nonoperated side. Level IV, case series.

Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in diagnosing supraspinatus lesions: a prospective accuracy diagnostic study.

This study was designed to define the accuracy of shoulder ultrasonography for diagnosing supraspinatus tendon tears. This examination is routinely used by orthopedists and may do away with the need for other examinations for diagnosing these tendon injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of shoulder ultrasonography for diagnosing supraspinatus tendon injuries, using magnetic resonance imaging as the reference. Prospective accuracy study at a single center: the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Clinic of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology. Shoulder ultrasonography was performed on 80 patients of both genders, over 18 years of age, with complaints of shoulder pain and clinically suspected supraspinatus tendon lesions. Jobe's test and a full can test were performed. In addition, they underwent magnetic resonance imaging in a 3.0-tesla machine, as the reference standard. The examinations were performed and interpreted by radiologists. Ultrasonography showed sensitivity of 36.3% and specificity of 91.7% for supraspinatus tears overall: sensitivity of 25.8% and specificity of 91.8% for partial tears and sensitivity of 46.2% and specificity of 100% for full-thickness tears. Ultrasonography showed high accuracy for diagnosing full-thickness tears: 91.3%. The p-values were 0.003 for tears overall, 0.031 for partial tears and < 0.001 for full-thickness tears. Ultrasonography showed low sensitivity for detecting supraspinatus tears, but high specificity for both partial and full-thickness tears.

Does My Patient With Shoulder Pain Have a Rotator Cuff Tear?: A Predictive Model From the ROW Cohort.

Background:Rotator cuff tears are the leading cause of shoulder pain and disability. However, the diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear based on patient characteristics, symptoms, and physical examination findings remains a challenge because of a lack of data. Moreover, data on the predictive ability of a combination of these characteristics and tests are not available from a large cohort of patients. Consequently, clinicians rely on expensive imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to make a diagnosis.Purpose:To model patient characteristics, symptoms, and physical examination findings that predict a rotator cuff tear. We present a nomogram based on our predictive model that can be used in patients with shoulder pain to determine the probability of the diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear without the need for imaging.Study Design:Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.Methods:We recruited patients from outpatient clinics who were ≥45 years of age and who had shoulder pain of at least 4 weeks’ duration. A rotator cuff tear was diagnosed based on expert clinical impression and the presence/absence of a tear on a blinded review of MRI. Ultimately, 301 patients were included in the analysis.Results:A total of 123 patients (41%) had rotator cuff tears, and 178 patients (59%) did not. The predictors of the diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear included external rotation strength ratio of the affected versus unaffected shoulder (odds ratio [OR], 1.20 [95% CI, 1.08-1.34]), male sex (OR, 1.98 [95% CI, 1.10-3.56]), positive lift-off test result (OR, 4.33 [95% CI, 1.46-12.86]), and positive Jobe test result (OR, 9.19 [95% CI, 4.69-17.99]). A nomogram based on these predictor variables was plotted.Conclusion:Presented is a model that can accurately predict the diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear with satisfactory discrimination and calibration based on 4 variables: sex, lift-off test, Jobe test, and external rotation strength ratio. Data from this study can be used to aid in the diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear in day-to-day clinical practice in outpatient settings without the need for expensive imaging such as MRI.