Ultrasonographic measures of subacromial space in patients with rotator cuff disease: A systematic review

Abstract

US images of AHD are smaller in patients with full-thickness tears than healthy individuals and subjects with subacromial impingement. AHD is potentially useful to prognosticate outcome in patients with subacromial impingement.

Ultrasonographic measurement of the acromiohumeral distance in spinal cord injury: Reliability and effects of shoulder positioning

“…In addition, the narrowest AHD was determined by sorting through a sequence of images collected using video-based methods versus relying on a single "snap-shot" image taken during the course of scanning. 33 While our methods matched up well (or better in some cases) compared with prior studies, our results also indicate that rater training and practice are more important to ensuring that the AHD is reliable.…”

Sonographic Evaluation of the Acromiohumeral Distance in Elite and Recreational Female Overhead Athletes

“…Patients with rotator cuff disease have shown smaller AHD measures compared with healthy controls from ultrasonography-generated images and from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiographs. 27 Desmeules et al 25 have described a trend for greater narrowing of the subacromial space in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy compared with healthy controls when moving the arm to 45 degrees of abduction. This is also consistent with results from previous studies using MRI to measure AHD.…”

Acromiohumeral distance measurement in rotator cuff tendinopathy: is there a reliable, clinically applicable method? A systematic review

“…There are numerous variables that may influence the reliability of AHD measurement including: the type of imaging used, measurement protocol, patient position, presence and degree of tendinopathy and interexaminer variables. Although a recent review evaluated AHD measurement by ultrasound in RC tendinopathy18 concluding that ultrasound-measured AHD is smaller in individuals with RC tears, no assessment of measurement reliability was carried out. Until now, no reviews have examined the reliability of any other radiological method.…”