Abstract
The shoulder joint is vulnerable for injuries following trauma and in the context
of sporting activities. Degenerative rotator cuff disease is also a common entity.
Conservative therapy is often not indicated or does not lead to the desired success,
so surgical intervention is necessary. Routine follow-ups, but also persistent complaints,
delayed healing, or recurrent trauma, usually need postoperative imaging of the shoulder.
The choice of the adequate imaging modality and technique is important to reach the
correct diagnosis. Additionally, knowledge of the most common surgical procedures,
as well as typical normal findings and expected pathologies on different imaging modalities,
is crucial for the radiologist to play a relevant role in the postoperative diagnostic
process. This article addresses postoperative imaging after rotator cuff repair, shoulder
arthroplasty, and surgery for shoulder stabilization with an emphasis on computed
tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.
Keywords
shoulder - imaging - rotator cuff repair - instability - postoperative imaging
