Diagnostic Accuracy of Clinical Examination and Imaging Findings for Identifying Subacromial Pain.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of subacromial pathology is limited by the poor accuracy of clinical tests for specific pathologies. The aim of this study was to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination and imaging features for identifying subacromial pain (SAP) defined by a positive response to diagnostic injection, and to evaluate the influence of imaging findings on the clinical diagnosis of SAP. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In a prospective, diagnostic accuracy design, 208 consecutive patients presenting to their primary healthcare practitioner for the first time with a new episode of shoulder pain were recruited. All participants underwent a standardized clinical examination, shoulder x-ray series and diagnostic ultrasound scan. Results were compared with the response to a diagnostic block of xylocaineTM injected into the SAB under ultrasound guidance using ≥80% post-injection reduction in pain intensity as the positive anaesthetic response (PAR) criterion. Diagnostic accuracy statistics were calculated for combinations of clinical and imaging variables demonstrating the highest likelihood of a PAR. A PAR was reported by 34% of participants. In participants with no loss of passive external rotation, combinations of three clinical variables (anterior shoulder pain, strain injury, absence of symptoms at end-range external rotation (in abduction)) demonstrated 100% specificity for a PAR when all three were positive (LR+ infinity; 95%CI 2.9, infinity). A full-thickness supraspinatus tear on ultrasound increased the likelihood of a PAR irrespective of age (specificity 98% (95%CI 94, 100); LR+ 6.2; 95% CI 1.5, 25.7)). Imaging did not improve the ability to rule-out a PAR. CONCLUSION: Combinations of clinical examination findings and a full-thickness supraspinatus tear on ultrasound scan can help confirm, but not exclude, the presence of subacromial pain. Other imaging findings were of limited value for diagnosing SAP.

Shoulder pain in primary care: frozen shoulder.

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT Frozen shoulder is a painful condition that follows a protracted clinical course. We aim to review the management of patients with a diagnosis of frozen shoulder who are referred for specialist orthopaedic evaluation against existing guidelines in primary care. ASSESSMENT OF PROBLEM Referrals and clinical records were reviewed for all patients referred for orthopaedic specialist assessment who received a specialist diagnosis of frozen shoulder. Diagnostic, investigation and management practices from a regional primary health care setting in New Zealand were compared with guideline-recommended management. RESULTS Eighty patients with frozen shoulder were referred for orthopaedic evaluation in the 13 month study period, mostly from general practice. Fifteen patients (19%) were identified as having a frozen shoulder in their medical referral. Most (99%) had received previous imaging. Seven patients (12%) had received guideline recommended treatment. STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT Education of all clinicians involved in patient management is important to ensure an understanding of the long natural history of frozen shoulder and provide reassurance that outcomes are generally excellent. HealthPathways now include more information regarding diagnosis, imaging and evidence-based management for frozen shoulder. LESSONS Frozen shoulder may be under-diagnosed among patients referred for orthopaedic review. Ultrasound imaging is commonly used and may identify occult and unrelated pathology in this age-group. When managed according to clinical guidelines, patients report significant clinical and functional improvement with most reporting 80% function compared with normal after 1 year. KEYWORDS Adhesive capsulitis; bursitis; injections; practice guideline; primary health care; ultrasound.

Shoulder pain in primary care--part 2: predictors of clinical outcome to 12 months.

OBJECTIVE: Identify predictor variables and models for clinical outcomes for primary care shoulder pain patients to 12 months follow-up. DESIGN: A non-randomized audit with measures of pain and disability at 3 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. PATIENTS: Of 208 patients, 161 agreed to participate with 96.9, 98.1, 87.0 and 83.9% follow-up at 3 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months respectively. Treatment consisted of exercise and manual therapy-based physiotherapy and corticosteroid injection under specified selection criteria. METHODS: Potentially useful baseline variables were evaluated in univariate logistic regressions with the dependent variables determined by SPADI Questionnaire at 3 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. Variables associated (p-value ≤ 0.2) were retained for potential inclusion within multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Pain not improved by rest, intermittent pain, lower pain intensity with physical tests and absence of subacromial bursa pathology on ultrasound at the 3-week follow-up, constant pain and lower pain intensity with physical tests are predictors of excellent outcomes at the 3-month follow- up. Worse baseline pain and disability, no history of asthma, pain better with rest, better physical functioning, greater fear avoidance, male gender, no history of pain in the opposite shoulder, pain referred below the elbow, sleep disturbed by pain, smaller waist circumference, lower pain intensity with physical tests are factors predictive of excellent outcomes at the 12-month follow-up. Only higher pain intensity with physical tests was associated with a poor clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: Predictive models for clinical outcomes in primary-care patients with shoulder pain were achieved for excellent clinical outcomes, successfully classifying 70-90% of cases.

Shoulder pain patients in primary care--part 1: Clinical outcomes over 12 months following standardized diagnostic workup, corticosteroid injections, and community-based care.

OBJECTIVE: Measure changes in pain and disability of primary care shoulder pain patients over a 12-month period. DESIGN: A non-randomized audit with repeated measures of pain and disability at 3 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. PATIENTS: Of 208 patients, 161 agreed to participate with 96.9%, 98.1%, 86.3%, 83.9% follow-up at 3 weeks, at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Mean age was 44 years, mean symptom duration 3.6 months. METHODS: PATIENTS were treated with protocol driven corticosteroid injection and community based care. Primary outcome measure was the Shoulder Pain and Disability index (SPADI) questionnaire. Based on the SPADI and minimal clinically important difference (MCID), outcomes were categorized into: total recovery, 90% or more improved, better, unchanged and worse. RESULTS: There was significant reduction of pain and disability at 3 weeks (p < 0.001), no change at the 3- and 6-month follow-up and a significant reduction at the 12-month follow-up (p < 0.001). Excellent outcomes were achieved by 32.9% and 45.3%, and a poor clinical outcome resulted for 32.8% and 14.9% at the 3- and 12-month follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSION: Though there was significant improvement at the 3-week and 12-month follow-up, 45% achieved an excellent outcome and a 16.7% of patients were the same or worse than baseline at 12 months.

Shoulder pain in primary care: diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination tests for non-traumatic acromioclavicular joint pain.

BACKGROUND: Despite numerous methodological flaws in previous study designs and the lack of validation in primary care populations, clinical tests for identifying acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) pain are widely utilised without concern for such issues. The aim of this study was to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of traditional ACJ tests and to compare their accuracy with other clinical examination features for identifying a predominant ACJ pain source in a primary care cohort. METHODS: Consecutive patients with shoulder pain were recruited prospectively from primary health care clinics. Following a standardised clinical examination and diagnostic injection into the subacromial bursa, all participants received a fluoroscopically guided diagnostic block of 1% lidocaine hydrochloride (XylocaineTM) into the ACJ. Diagnostic accuracy statistics including sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR-) were calculated for traditional ACJ tests (Active Compression/O'Brien's test, cross-body adduction, localised ACJ tenderness and Hawkins-Kennedy test), and for individual and combinations of clinical examination variables that were associated with a positive anaesthetic response (PAR) (P≤0.05) defined as 80% or more reduction in post-injection pain intensity during provocative clinical tests. RESULTS: Twenty two of 153 participants (14%) reported an 80% PAR. None of the traditional ACJ tests were associated with an 80% PAR (P<0.05) and combinations of traditional tests were not able to discriminate between a PAR and a negative anaesthetic response (AUC 0.507; 95% CI: 0.366, 0.647; P>0.05). Five clinical examination variables (repetitive mechanism of pain onset, no referred pain below the elbow, thickened or swollen ACJ, no symptom provocation during passive glenohumeral abduction and external rotation) were associated with an 80% PAR (P<0.05) and demonstrated an ability to accurately discriminate between an PAR and NAR (AUC 0.791; 95% CI 0.702, 0.880; P<0.001). Less than two positive clinical features resulted in 96% sensitivity (95% CI 0.78, 0.99) and a LR- 0.09 (95% CI 0.02, 0.41) and four positive clinical features resulted in 95% specificity (95% CI 0.90, 0.98) and a LR+ of 4.98 (95% CI 1.69, 13.84). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of primary care patients with predominantly subacute or chronic ACJ pain of non-traumatic onset, traditional ACJ tests were of limited diagnostic value. Combinations of other history and physical examination findings were able to more accurately identify injection-confirmed ACJ pain in this cohort.

Diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination features for identifying large rotator cuff tears in primary health care.

OBJECTIVES: Rotator cuff tears are a common and disabling complaint. The early diagnosis of medium and large size rotator cuff tears can enhance the prognosis of the patient. The aim of this study was to identify clinical features with the strongest ability to accurately predict the presence of a medium, large or multitendon (MLM) rotator cuff tear in a primary care cohort. METHODS: Participants were consecutively recruited from primary health care practices (n = 203). All participants underwent a standardized history and physical examination, followed by a standardized X-ray series and diagnostic ultrasound scan. Clinical features associated with the presence of a MLM rotator cuff tear were identified (P<0.200), a logistic multiple regression model was derived for identifying a MLM rotator cuff tear and thereafter diagnostic accuracy was calculated. RESULTS: A MLM rotator cuff tear was identified in 24 participants (11.8%). Constant pain and a painful arc in abduction were the strongest predictors of a MLM tear (adjusted odds ratio 3.04 and 13.97 respectively). Combinations of ten history and physical examination variables demonstrated highest levels of sensitivity when five or fewer were positive [100%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86-1.00; negative likelihood ratio: 0.00, 95% CI: 0.00-0.28], and highest specificity when eight or more were positive (0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.95; positive likelihood ratio 4.66, 95% CI: 2.34-8.74). DISCUSSION: Combinations of patient history and physical examination findings were able to accurately detect the presence of a MLM rotator cuff tear. These findings may aid the primary care clinician in more efficient and accurate identification of rotator cuff tears that may require further investigation or orthopedic consultation.

Clinical predictors of a positive response to guided diagnostic block into the subacromial bursa.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of combinations of clinical examination findings for predicting a positive response to injection of local anaesthetic into the subacromial bursa. DESIGN: Prospective, cohort, diagnostic validity design. SUBJECTS: Consecutive patients with shoulder pain recruited from primary care physiotherapy and general medical practices. METHODS: All subjects underwent a standardised clinical examination (index test) followed by a diagnostic injection of xylocaineTM into the subacromial bursa (reference standard test) performed under ultrasound guidance. Clinical examination variables associated with a positive anaesthetic response (≥ 80% post-injection reduction in pain intensity) were identified (p < 0.20) and diagnostic accuracy was calculated. RESULTS: Of the 196 subjects who received a subacromial bursa injection, 66 subjects (34%) reported a positive anaesthetic response. Strain injury (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.3), anterior shoulder pain (AOR 2.3) and absence of pain with external rotation at 90º abduction (AOR 3.9) were the strongest clinical predictors of positive anaesthetic response. Clinical prediction model variables demonstrated 100% specificity (3 positive tests) but low sensitivity (maximum 40%) for a positive anaesthetic response. Combinations of 9 other clinical variables also demonstrated 100% specificity (7 or more positive tests), and improved sensitivity (95 to 100%) for a PAR compared with clinical prediction model variables when less than two findings were present. CONCLUSION: Combinations of these clinical tests may assist the clinician to differentiate subacromial pain from other shoulder conditions and guide selection of targeted pain management interventions. Additional diagnostic tests may be required when clinical criteria are not satisfied.

Comparison of a novel direct measure of rapid pain intensity change to traditional serial 100 mm VAS measurement of pain intensity.

OBJECTIVES: Key diagnostic decisions often turn on measurement of change in pain intensity after diagnostic anesthetic blocks. This study aimed to introduce a new direct measure pain intensity change and compare it with percent change as calculated from the traditional preprocedure and postprocedure pain visual analog scales. METHODS: Shoulder pain patients enrolled in a diagnostic accuracy study comparing clinical variables with image-guided local anesthetic injections were assessed with both the traditional preprocedure and postprocedure visual analog scales and the new direct method. Percent change in pain intensity was calculated with both instruments and were compared using statistical methods. The percentage pain reduction used to classify patients as responders was 80%. RESULTS: Patients received anesthetic injections to targeted shoulder structures (N=146, 331 procedures). For data above the 80% pain reduction criterion, Lin Concordance statistic ranged from 0.22 to 0.55. Bland and Altman analyses revealed positive bias and the amount of reported pain reduction was higher with the traditional method. For data above the 80% pain reduction criterion, the bias was higher and ranged from 4.8% to 12.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The 2 methods are not interchangeable. The new method measures the pain intensity change dimension directly, whereas the traditional method estimates change indirectly by calculation. Face validity is better served by adopting the new method for decisions regarding whether a patient is a "responder" or "nonresponder" to diagnostic blocks. The traditional method should be retained for estimation of pain intensity preprocedure and the duration of pain relief postprocedure.

A prospective study of shoulder pain in primary care: prevalence of imaged pathology and response to guided diagnostic blocks.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of imaged pathology in primary care has received little attention and the relevance of identified pathology to symptoms remains unclear. This paper reports the prevalence of imaged pathology and the association between pathology and response to diagnostic blocks into the subacromial bursa (SAB), acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) and glenohumeral joint (GHJ). METHODS: Consecutive patients with shoulder pain recruited from primary care underwent standardised x-ray, diagnostic ultrasound scan and diagnostic injections of local anaesthetic into the SAB and ACJ. Subjects who reported less than 80% reduction in pain following either of these injections were referred for a magnetic resonance arthrogram (MRA) and GHJ diagnostic block. Differences in proportions of positive and negative imaging findings in the anaesthetic response groups were assessed using Fishers test and odds ratios were calculated a for positive anaesthetic response (PAR) to diagnostic blocks. RESULTS: In the 208 subjects recruited, the rotator cuff and SAB displayed the highest prevalence of pathology on both ultrasound (50% and 31% respectively) and MRA (65% and 76% respectively). The prevalence of PAR following SAB injection was 34% and ACJ injection 14%. Of the 59% reporting a negative anaesthetic response (NAR) for both of these injections, 16% demonstrated a PAR to GHJ injection. A full thickness tear of supraspinatus on ultrasound was associated with PAR to SAB injection (OR 5.02; p < 0.05). Ultrasound evidence of a biceps tendon sheath effusion (OR 8.0; p < 0.01) and an intact rotator cuff (OR 1.3; p < 0.05) were associated with PAR to GHJ injection. No imaging findings were strongly associated with PAR to ACJ injection (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rotator cuff and SAB pathology were the most common findings on ultrasound and MRA. Evidence of a full thickness supraspinatus tear was associated with symptoms arising from the subacromial region, and a biceps tendon sheath effusion and an intact rotator cuff were associated with an intra-articular GHJ pain source. When combined with clinical information, these results may help guide diagnostic decision making in primary care.

Interexaminer reliability of orthopaedic special tests used in the assessment of shoulder pain.

Orthopaedic special tests (OST) are commonly used in the assessment of the painful shoulder to assist to rule-in or rule-out specific pathology. A small number of tests with high levels of diagnostic accuracy have been identified but interexaminer reliability data is variable or lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the interexaminer reliability of a group of OST with demonstrated diagnostic accuracy at primary care level. Forty consecutive subjects with shoulder pain were recruited. Six tests were performed by two examiners (physiotherapists) on the same day. Tests included the active compression test, Hawkins-Kennedy test, drop-arm test, crank test, Kim test and belly-press test. 'Fair' reliability (kappa 0.36-0.38) was observed for the active compression test (labral pathology), Hawkins-Kennedy test and crank test. Prevalence of positive agreements was low for the active compression test (acromioclavicular joint), drop-arm test, Kim test and belly-press test. Prevalence and bias adjusted kappa (PABAK) values indicated 'substantial' reliability (0.65-0.78) for these tests. The active compression test (acromioclavicular joint), belly-press tests (observation and weakness), Kim test and drop-arm test demonstrate acceptable levels of interexaminer reliability in a group of patients with sub-acute and chronic shoulder conditions.

Reliability of a new hand-held dynamometer in measuring shoulder range of motion and strength.

Acceptable reliability is a prerequisite for inclusion of physical examination tests in clinical examinations of the painful shoulder. The aim of this study was to establish the intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability of measures of shoulder range of motion (ROM) and muscle force using a new hand-held dynamometer with the ability to standardize overpressure force during passive ROM tests. Forty consecutive subjects with shoulder pain were recruited, and tests were performed by two physiotherapists. Tests included active ROM elevation, passive ROM glenohumeral abduction and external rotation and resisted abduction and external rotation. All tests demonstrated high levels of intraexaminer reliability (ICC 0.85-0.99; LOA 6-24° and 1.1-7.0 kg). Highest levels of interexaminer reliability reliability were observed for measures of active ROM flexion (ICC 0.88-0.95; LOA 14-22°). Passive ROM tests demonstrated 'moderate - substantial' interexaminer reliability (ICC 0.45-0.62; LOA 25-34°). The ICCs for resisted tests ranged from 0.68 to 0.84, and LOA ranged from 3.2 to 8.5 kg. Active ROM flexion demonstrated high levels of both intra- and interexaminer reliability. Measures of passive ROM and peak isometric force demonstrated acceptable levels of intraexaminer reliability.