超音波検査を用いたリトルリーグ肩診断の試み

概要

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Background: Little Leaguer's shoulder is diagnosed mainly by radiography. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography for diagnosis of Little Leaguer's shoulder compared with radiography. Methods: 300 primary school baseball players underwent screening of throwing side elbow and shoulder in January, 2012. 24 subjects, who had tenderness to palpation over the proximal humerus, received ultrasonographic examination. The laterality of the width of proximal humeral epiphyseal line was measured. Sixteen of the 24 subjects received X-ray examination at outpatient clinic. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ultrasonography for a Little Leaguer's shoulder was calculated using X-ray findings as a gold standard. Results: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ultrasonography for a Little Leaguer's shoulder were 87.5%, 87.5% and 87.5% respectively. Discussion: Early diagnosis of shoulder and elbow disorders among young baseball players is important. Ultrasonography has been used for the diagnosis of elbow disorders at preparticipation physical examination (PPE). However, few reports are available on the use of ultrasonography for shoulder disorders at PPE. In our study, we attempted to detect a Little Leaguer's shoulder using portable ultrasonography and the sensitivity was 87.5%. Ultrasonography could be useful for the screening of a Little Leaguer's shoulder.