Introduction and purpose: Since 1834 when Smith first described rotator cuff tears we have come far in the treatment of this condition. The greater availability of arthroscopic surgical procedures requires the greatest possible precision in preoperative diagnoses. Our purpose is to determine the accuracy (sensitivity and specificity), in our environment, of the two main diagnostic techniques we use, namely ultrasound and magnetic resonance.

Materials and methods: We reviewed 100 arthroscopic shoulder procedures performed in our centre. We compared retrospectively the intraoperative findings with the reports of the available images of each patient (US and MRI). We focused our attention exclusively on the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle. The sensitivity and specificity of both tests was compared in two different ways. In the first case, by considering as torn tendons those with complete tears (total thickness tears); in the second case, by considering as torn tendons those with complete or partial tears.

Results: With magnetic resonance images we found a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 89% for total tears and a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 64% for partial tears. With ultrasound we found a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 83% for total tears and a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 78% for partial tears.

Conclusions: Both diagnostic methods show comparable sensitivity and specificity levels, which were high in our environment for total tears. Specificity is less in the case of partial tears.

Introduction and Objectives: This is a retrospective radiographic study of results of surgical correction of thoracolumbar and King I scoliosis using segmental instrumentation.

Materials and Methods: This study includes 44 patients (41 female, 3 male) with an average age of 16.8 years (12-40) and 5.9 years average progression. The number of instrumented levels was 5.1 (4–7). Curve magnitude, T1–S1 imbalance, and the angles of the instrumented zone were measured using teleradiographic studies with an anteroposterior view. Thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis were measured in the sagittal plane, and the thoracic and lumbar regions were measured in the instrumented area.

Results: On the anteroposterior view, average magnitude of principal preoperative curve, postoperative curve, and final result was 48°, 11.9°, and 14.7°, respectively. A final correction of 69.3% was obtained. T1–S1 imbalance improved from an initial 2.1cm to 1.9cm postoperatively and a final result of 0.5cm. On the lateral view, preoperative, postoperative, and final thoracic kyphosis were 29.5°, 27.8°, and 30.4°, respectively. Average figures for lumbar lordosis were 59.2°, 55.6°, and 61.1°. The instrumented thoracic zone went from 0.8° kyphosis preoperatively to 4.7° final kyphosis, and the lumbar area of instrumentation went from 9.7° preoperative lordosis to a final angle of 10.4°.

Discussion and Conclusions: In our experience, correction of thoracolumbar and King I scoliosis using anterior instrumentation has given good results, obtaining an initial 75% correction of the principal curve and an average loss of only 3° on follow-up. In the sagittal plane, there is no loss of kyphosis and lordosis, both of which are within normal physiological ranges. Thoracic kyphosis was increased 3.9° in the instrumented zone, and although instrumented lordosis did not improve, a kyphotic effect was observed.