Digital arthrography in the diagnosis of rotator cuff disruption

In order to improve the diagnostic capabilities of arthrography in patients with partial or complete rotator cuff tears, the authors initiate a prospective evaluation of digital arthrographic technique, using a Diasonics DP/DA 100 digital fluorographic unit in 22 patients. Images were obtained at the rate of one per second for 20 seconds during the administration of 13 ml of contrast material, and positive and subtraction digital images were reviewed. The presence and site of nine complete and three partial rotator cuff tears were exquisitely shown with the digital technique, confirming the superiority of the method