Arthrography of the shoulder joint.

Abstract

T he diagnosis and understanding of shoulder disorders has advanced dramatically in recent years. As with most human disorders, such as the many forms of arthritis [1], the number of known separate entities has increased over time. This increase is in part due to new and evolving diagnostic techniques. Arthroscopy of the shoulder joint was described by Burman in 1931 [2]. Burman claimed to have examined over 90 joints in adults and children, including examinations of the wrist, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle. The technique did not gain widespread use until the 1970s when instrumentation had substantially improved. (Obtaining sufficiently bright light bulbs, for example, was a problem eventually solved by fiber optics). The introduction of MRI in the 1970s [3, 4] was followed in the 80s with application of the technique to study the normal shoulder [5] and, shortly thereafter, to identify rotator cuff tears [7, 8]. With increasing refinement of the sequences and the ability to distinguish tissues with higher and higher resolution, MRI has allowed researchers and clinicians Published online: 27 May 2011 The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons1 2011