ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the value of ultrasonic direct signs and indirect signs in diagnosis of rotator cuff tears (RCTs).Methods Fifty-two patients underwent ultrasonography before arthroscopy were enrolled.The efficacy of ultrasonic direct and indirect signs in diagnosis of RCTs was calculated,and the accuracy of ultrasonic direct signs in diagnosis of subtypes for RCTs was compared with arthroscopic results.Results The accuracy of ultrasonic direct signs in diagnosis of the presence of tears,full-thickness tears and partial-thickness tears was 90.38％ (47/52),96.15％ (50/52)and 86.54％ (45/52),respectively.Additionally,the consistency of ultrasonic direct signs in diagnosis of subtypes for RCTs with arthroscopic results was good.With regard to ultrasonic indirect signs,the specificity of effusions including all subacromial/subdeltoid bursa effusions,intra-articular fluid and biceps tendon sheath effusions,subdeltoid bursa hernia and cartilage demarcation sign was 80.95％(17/21),90.48％ (19/21) and 95.24％ (20/21),respectively.Conclusion Ultrasonic direct signs combined with indirect signs have high clinical value in diagnosis of subtypes for RCTs.