Shoulder ultrasound

Shoulder ultrasound (US) can be done using various techniques. It is useful to establish a standard technique to be familiar with how normal structures appear. This will later assist in the recognition of pathology. Shoulder US can be confusing to the beginner. Shoulder anatomy, as seen on real-time US, takes time to learn. We demonstrate our standard technique for looking at rotator cuff pathology. Much of it was taught by our teachers or learnt from standard textbooks on musculoskeletal US. We image the subscapularis (SUBSCAP), biceps (BT), supraspinatus (SST) and infraspinatus (IST) tendons. We look for impingement of the SST under the acromion process. We also image the acromioclavicular joint. We do not routinely image the teres minor tendon. We hope to teach the beginner by using videos that show how each structure is scanned. US cine-loops show what is seen on the scanning monitor. Frozen US images with labelled line drawings are given to explain the structures seen. This article is not comprehensive and includes no examples of pathology. We hope it will serve as a supplement to a standard textbook such as the one referenced [1]. INSTRUMENT