BACKGROUND: Shoulder pain is one of the most common presentations in the orthopedic clinic. Multiple factors have been found to cause shoulder pain. Radiographs and ultrasound are widely available, relatively cheap modalities in assessing shoulder pain. The aim of this study is to assess the radiographic and sonographic imaging patterns of shoulder pain.

METHODS: A descriptive prospective cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted at the Department of Radiology of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital among patients with shoulder pain that came for imaging from August 2021-January 2022.

RESULT: Of the 73 patients with shoulder pain included in the study, 67% were females while 33% males. The mean age was 51.7 years. Radiographs found pathology in 53% of the cases. Acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, greater tuberosity degenerative changes, rotator cuff calcification were common radiographic findings. Ultrasound detected pathologies in 87% of the cases. The common pathologies were rotator cuff pathologies, biceps tendon pathologies, acromioclavicular joint degeneration, greater tuberosity degenerative changes, subacromial subdeltoid bursitis, and adhesive capsulitis. There was a significant association between greater tuberocity degenerative changes and supraspinatous pathologies with age, greater tuberocity degenerative changes with supraspinatous pathologies, acromiohumeral distance of <7mm with supraspinatous pathology.

CONCLUSION: Radiographs and ultrasound are valuable imaging modalities for shoulder pain. Low acromiohumeral interval, greater tuberosity degenerative changes, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis are associated with rotator cuff tears. Rotator cuff pathologies are the most common pathologies observed in ultrasound. We recommend ultrasound to be second step after radiograph due to its low cost and wide availability.

KEYWORDS: Shoulder Ultrasound, Shoulder Radiograph, Rotator Cuff, Musculoskeletal Imaging