Supraspinatus tendinopathy: diagnosis by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Conservative and surgical management alternatives

Abstract

Supraspinatus tendinopathy is a common cause of shoulder joint dysfunction and pain. The term tendinopathy encompasses tendinitis, tendinosis and partial thickness injuries. The existence of a compatible mechanism of injury, together with meticulous exploration and the use of complementary imaging techniques, are essential in order to establish a correct diagnosis. A broad range of treatment options are available for supraspinatus tendinopathy. The nonsurgical alternatives include the modification of patient activities, the prescription of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, physiotherapy and different physical therapies, and a range of infiltrations. Surgery is reserved for concrete patients when the more conservative options have been exhausted and/or have failed. Acromioplasty is not an adequate alternative for the management of these patients. The aim of this review is to describe the different diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives for supraspinatus tendinopathy, given the high prevalence of this disorder.