The vacuum arthrogram in the shoulder: Correlation with rotator cuff disease

Plain radiographs of the shoulder can demonstrate a vacuum arthrogram delineating the articular surfaces. In a review of 122 consecutive arthrograms with radiographic contrast injections, there were 25 vacuum arthrograms on the preceding plain films. We have found the presence of a vacuum arthrogram to be an accurate predictor of an intact rotator cuff, with a specificity of 0.98 and a positive predictive value of 0.96.