A method of roentgenologic examination of the shoulder.

Calcifications in the soft tissues are often seen in roentgenograms of the shoulder girdle. Fractures with separation of small cortical spicules of bone are not infrequent findings. Tendon injuries, as rupture of the supraspinatus tendon and dislocation of the long head of the biceps brachii, are also known to occur. On occasion, the roentgenologist may be called on to localize accurately such particles and other abnormalities. Stimulated by necessity, the authors early became aware that the usual roentgenograms of the shoulder, namely anteroposterior views with the hand in supination and pronation, are insufficient, even if taken in stereoscopic pairs. The great freedom of motion of the humeral head on the surface of the glenoid fossa actually adds to the difficulty of the exact localization of a lesion. Anatomically the freedom of motion of the humerus is favored by a relatively loosely enveloping joint capsule, which attaches to the glenoid rim above and to the anatomical neck of the humerus below. Thi...