Reason for requesting investigation | Plain radiograph shoulder (n%) | Blood tests (n%) | USS shoulder (n%) | Plain radiograph neck (n%) | MRI shoulder (n%) | MRI neck (n%) |
To confirm the diagnosis | 59 (24) | 8 (5) | 83 (54) | 5 (24) | 11 (55) | 0 |
To exclude other diagnoses | 125 (52) | 154 (90) | 5 (3) | 9 (43) | 2 (10) | 2 (50) |
To guide treatment option | 32 (13) | 3 (2) | 32 (21) | 2 (10) | 0 | 0 |
To decide whether to refer on | 4 (2) | 0 | 7 (5) | 2 (10) | 5 (25) | 1 (25) |
More than one reason | 22 (9) | 7 (4) | 27 (18) | 3 (14) | 2 (10) | 1 (25) |
Total | 242 | 172 | 154 | 21 | 20 | 4 |
RCT, rotator cuff tendinopathy; USS, ultrasound scan.