# SUBSCAPULAR INJURY: PROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF PHYSICAL EXAMINATION, MRI AND ARTHROSCOPY

## TL;DR

This study compares physical exams, MRI, and arthroscopy for detecting subscapular tendon injuries, finding the Bear Hug test and MRI to be most effective.

## Contribution

The study prospectively evaluates diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests and MRI for subscapular tendon lesions.

## Key findings

- MRI showed 88% specificity and 54% accuracy for subscapular lesions.
- The Bear Hug test had 76% sensitivity and 74% accuracy, outperforming other clinical tests.
- MRI was found to be the most specific diagnostic method for subscapular tendon injuries.

## Abstract

Rotator cuff injury is the most frequent etiology of shoulder pain, with 24% of these injuries involving the subscapular tendon.

To correlate the findings of three clinical tests (Gerber test, Belly Press test, and Bear Hug test) with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and arthroscopic findings of subscapular lesions.

Prospective cross-sectional study, from November 2023 to March 2024, with 50 patients with rotator cuff injury, evaluating sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy among clinical tests, MRI, and arthroscopic findings.

50 patients formed the sample, with 29 (58%) men and 21 (42%) women aged 42 to 86 years. We found a specificity of 88% and an accuracy of 54% in MRI. Regarding the Gerber test, the Belly Press test, and the Bear Hug test, the sensitivity was 64%, 64%, and 76%, with specificity of 75% for the Gerber and Belly Press tests and accuracy of 74% for the Bear Hug test.

We concluded that the Bear Hug test showed higher sensitivity and accuracy in detecting subscapular tendon lesions, with MRI being the most specific method.
Level of Evidence II; Prospective Study.