Simple Radiographic Finding of Subacromial Impingement Syndrome

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We evaluated both the patients and the normal volunteers to determine the diagnostic criteria of subacromial impingement syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the radiologic finding of Thirty degree of caudal tilt view (TCTV) and Supraspinatus outlet view (SOV) of 100 shoulders from 85 patients with clinically proved subacromial impingement syndrome and normal 100 shoulders from 60 volunteers. RESULT: In TCTV, the protrusion of acromion below the line of extension from inferior surface of clavicle was shown in 94% of the patient group and 48% in normal group. Sharp tip of acromial protrusion was detectable in 55.3% of the patient group and 10.4% in normal group. In SOV, curved type of acromion was seen in 53% of the normal and 50% in patient group. Hooked type of acromion was detected in 3% and 31% of the normal and patient group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Protrusion of acromion at TCTV itself was not a criteria of subacromial impingement syndrome, but more than 7 mm below the line of extension from inferior surface of clavicle was meanigful. In SOV, hooked type of acromion was a criteria of subacromial impingement syndrome but curved type is was not a finding of diagnostic significence. Acromial spur formation on TCTV and SOV was important criteria of subacromial impingement syndrome.