Article
Incidence of Os Acromiale in Patients With Shoulder Pain
Am J Orthop. 2007 March;36(3):153-155
Author and Disclosure Information
Kelton M. Burbank, MD, Mark J. Lemos, MD, Gretchen Bell, BA, and David W. Lemos, MD
Dr. Burbank is Fellow in Sports Medicine, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts.
Dr. Mark J. Lemos is Director of Sports Medicine, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts, and Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.
Ms. Bell is Research Assistant in Sports Medicine, and Dr. David W. Lemos is Wise Research Fellow in Orthopaedics Surgery, Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts.
A prospective case series was undertaken to determine the incidence of os acromiale in patients presenting to an orthopedic clinic with shoulder pain during a 6-month period.
Ninety-three shoulders in 88 consecutive patients were evaluated by history, physical examination, and radiographs. Radiographs included anteroposterior, scapular Y, and axillary views in all patients. Based on history and physical examination, no patient was given a primary diagnosis of os acromiale. However, when the plain films were specifically reviewed for this entity, it was present in 6 (6.82%) of the 88 patients. It was seen on the axillary view in each case. Five (83.3%) of the 6 patients had been given a diagnosis of either impingement or rotator cuff tear based on physical examination.
Os acromiale is an infrequent but not rare entity that must be kept in mind when evaluating patients with shoulder pain, as failure to recognize an os acromiale may negatively influence treatment results. An axillary view should be obtained when evaluating patients with shoulder pain.