DIAGNOSIS OF SOMATIC DYSFUNCTIONS OF THE HUMERAL HEAD IN PATIENTS NOT SUFFERING FROM THE SHOULDER: RELATION BETWEEN RADIOLOGIC LANDMARKS

Abstract

 Objectives: this study tries to assess the relation between the two nowadays accepted radiological landmarks to diagnose somatic dysfunctions of the humeral head (acromiohumeral width and omohumeral line) in patients whose pathologies do not place in the shoulder although it can be affected. Material and methods: a cross-sectional, non-experimental, randomized, simple blind study has been developed. 20 subjects, both sex, aging between 18 and 50, suffering from different neck, thoracic, elbow, wrist or hand pathologies were studied. Plain radiographies of the shoulder were taken, and omohumeral line and acromiohumeral width were assessed in order to get the radiological diagnosis. This work took place in Radiology Department of the Escuela Graduada Health Center, in Palma de Mallorca. Results: there is no relation (p = 0,601) between the diagnosis obtained assessing omohumeral line and the diagnosis obtained measuring the subacromial space on the same radiography (CI 95 %). Conclusions: at least, one of these radiological references is not valid when used to diagnose the somatic dysfunction of the humeral head in the frontal plane in patients whose pathology is not placed on the shoulder.