Sonographic evaluation of the arthroscopically repaired rotator cuff

Ultrasound is gradually achieving more acceptance by orthopaedic surgeons as a diagnostic imaging tool for rotator cuff and biceps tendon pathology. Two hundred and ten patients with arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs were examined clinically and with ultrasound at early (3 weeks) and late follow-up (average 22 months; range: 12 to 49). A high correlation between clinically intact cuffs and sonographically intact rotator cuffs after repair is shown. This article gives an overview of relevant sonographic signs of rotator cuff tears, and it gives a detailed description of the sonographic signs of an intact rotator cuff after repair. Ultrasound appears to be a valuable examination for the orthopaedic surgeon to evaluate the postoperative integrity of (arthroscopically) repaired rotator cuff tendons.