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Relation between diagnostic radiologic landmarks of somatic dysfunction of the humeral head in the frontal plane

Abstract:

Introduction: To diagnose superior or inferior somatic dysfunctions of the humeral head, two radiological landmarks have been described: subacromial distance and omohumeral line. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between these radiological landmarks on the same radiograph. Material and methods: Twenty patients with mechanical shoulder pain, aged between 18 and 50 years old, and without rotator cuff rupture were included. Anteroposterior radiographs were taken, and omohumeral line and subacromial distance were assessed to obtain the diagnosis given by these osteopathic radiological landmarks. Results: We found a statistically significant relationship between the diagnoses based on omohumeral line and subacromial distance (P = 0.000), although the percentage of diagnostic agreement was low (30%). Conclusions: The relationship between these two radiological landmarks seems to be clear, although the percentage of diagnostic agreement showed that at least one of these landmarks lacks validity in the diagnosis of superior or inferior somatic dysfunction of the humeral head. © 2008 Elsevier España S.L. All rights reserved.