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Practical Musculoskeletal Ultrasound e Book 2nd Edition Ebook PDF
Practical Musculoskeletal Ultrasound e Book 2nd Edition Ebook PDF
vii
viii Video Contents
Footballers ankle
PART 4 FINGER
Insertional Achilles tendinopathy
Metacarpophalangeal joint synovitis
Peroneal tenosynovitis
Plantar fasciitis
PART 5 HIP
Plantar fibroma
Hamstring enthesopathy
Plantaris tear
Iliopsoas partial tear
Posteromedial impingement
Iliopsoas snap
Pre Achilles bursa: Haglund’s deformity
Labral cyst
Pre Achilles bursa
Rectus femoris muscle tear
Spring ligament tear
Snapping iliotibial band
Tibialis anterior tear
Sub gluteus medius bursa with doppler
Tibialis posterior split tear
Tibialis posterior tendinopathy
PART 6 KNEE
Osteomyelitis with fluid visible in medulla through PART 8 POSTERIOR ANKLE
a cloaca
Achilles tendinopathy
Focal patellar tendinopathy with doppler
Complete Achilles tendon tear
Gastrocnemius hematoma
Complete Achilles tendon tear
Jumpers knee sagittal with intense doppler activity
Partial Achilles tendon tear
Meniscal cyst
Recurrence of complete Achilles tendon tear
Myositis ossificans
Haglund’s disease
Osgood schlatter’s disease
Subcutaneous bursitis
Osgood schlatter’s disease
Partial tear of plantaris tendon
Focal patellar tendinopathy with doppler
Popliteal cyst with synovitis
PART 9 LATERAL ANKLE
Mortons intermetatarsal neuroma/bursitis complex Out of view approach to small joint: needle tip
in joint
Mortons intermetatarsal neuroma/bursitis complex
Pre Achilles injection
Plantar fibroma
Pulsating eggshell is supraspinatus tendon following
Small Morton’s calcium aspiration
Stress fracture second mettarsal neck Posterior approach to glenohumeral joint
Tendon sheath injection
PART 11 INTERVENTION
Fenestrating supraspinatus calcium deposit
In the last decade musculoskeletal ultrasound has progres gained. Throughout the book the authors display an aware
sively gained widespread popularity in the diagnosis and ness of what does and what doesn’t work, what is or isn’t
assessment of the musculoskeletal system. This is mainly due useful, and an appreciation of the role of ultrasound in
to advances in ultrasound technology (new generation of relation to other imaging techniques.
digital equipment and transducers, color/power doppler) The second edition is totally re-written, re-structured and
which has refined the clinician’s ability to visualise superfi revised. The previous edition had 16 chapters, this has 33
cial soft tissue structures to an extent that in some areas chapters. There is expanded coverage of the shoulder,
rivals the diagnostic capability of MR. Intrinsic musculo elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, foot and ankle, and interven
skeletal ultrasound advantages include easy accessibility, tional techniques. There are hundreds of new illustrations
time and cost-effectiveness, and the ability to perform a real (line drawings and ultrasound scans) help illustrate relevant
time, dynamic examination during the clinical examination. anatomy and pathology and provide the user with a com
Although the quality and consistency of the diagnostic exam prehensive visual guide to accurate interpretation and diag
is heavily dependent on the examiner’s expertise, musculo nosis. The addition of real time videos that complement the
skeletal ultrasound has become an attractive and effective images in the book and better illustrate the pathology. There
modality to image the musculoskeletal system and for some are differential diagnosis summary tables to quickly direct
conditions has established itself the first-line examination the user to the most likely clinical problem being assessed.
technique. The book is also available on the Expert Consult platform
This book provides a practical guide for those wishing to with online access to text, images and video clips. As before,
obtain an understanding of ultrasound techniques, their I am very grateful to all the contributors who once again
major applications and their role in patient diagnosis and have given their expertise and insights so willingly.
management. It offers essential guidance on how to conduct
an ultrasound examination, how best to obtain optimal Eugene G McNally
images, and on how best to interpret the information Oxford 2013
xi
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List of Contributors
xiii
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Abbreviations/Contractions
xv
xvi Abbreviations/Contractions
1
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Shoulder: Anatomy 1
and Techniques
Eugene McNally
CHAPTER OUTLINE
3
4 PART 1 — SHOULDER
TECHNIQUE
The patient sits and places their hand on their knee palm
upwards. This induces a little external rotation sufficient to
bring the bicipital groove to an anterior position (Fig. 1.3).
The groove is easily located by placing the probe in an axial
plane on the anterior aspect of the humeral head. The
probe is then moved superiorly and inferiorly, tracing the
biceps tendon from the upper part of the groove to below
its upper musculotendinous junction. The normal tendon
has a bright speckled appearance in the axial plane, made
up of the poorly reflective tendon fibre bundles and the
hyperechoic connective tissue matrix. Care must be taken
to ensure that the probe is always held at 90° to the tendon
to remove the effects of anisotropy. Anisotropy is an artefact
whereby areas of reduced reflectivity simulating tendinopa
thy occur as a result of incident echoes arriving at angles
other than perpendicular and being reflected away from the
tendon, rather than bouncing back to the probe to help
form an image.
At its upper part, the biceps tendon sheath surrounds the
tendon. As is well known, this is an extension of the gleno
Figure 1.1 The glenohumeral joint is stabilized by a combination of
the joint capsule with its condensations, the glenohumeral ligaments
humeral joint and a small quantity of fluid is often identified
and the rotator cuff tendons. The coracoacromial arch overlies the within it. Also in its upper part, the anterior portion of the
supraspinatus comprising the coracoid, acromial and CAL. subacromial subdeltoid bursa can be seen deep to the
deltoid muscle and anterior to the biceps sheath. The ante
rior limb of the circumflex humeral artery is frequently
useful diagnostic information. The examination itself begins visible around the tendon. Distally, the relationship of the
with a brief inspection of the shoulder, useful to detect musculotendinous junction with the traversing pectoralis
muscle wasting. As with most ultrasound examinations the tendon should be noted. A number of tendon variations
probe should be held lightly with sufficient, but not exces may be identified. There are often a number of slips that
sive, contact with the skin. Holding the probe between the pass from the upper humerus to the tendon. Occasionally
thumb and adjacent fingers while resting the little finger a duplex tendon is encountered.
on the patient’s skin is an ideal way of obtaining excellent The probe is then rotated 90° so that the tendon can
contact with minimal pressure. be examined in its long axis (Fig. 1.4). Maintaining the
The cuff is examined from biceps anteriorly to teres tendon in view during this manoeuvre takes a little practice;
minor posteriorly and from the acromioclavicular joint however, if the probe falls off the tendon it is very easy to
superiorly to deltoid insertion inferiorly. The examination move a little medial or lateral to find it again, noting where
is concentrated on the four major tendons, but it is impor the reflective humeral shaft drops away as the probe crosses
tant to have a routine to ensure that none of the other the groove. In most individuals, the tendon travels deeper
important structures is overlooked. My preference is to as it passes distally. This introduces an element of anisot
begin with the biceps tendon and rotator interval anteriorly, ropy, which can be easily corrected by some gentle pressure
then move sequentially through subscapularis, supraspina at the distal end of the probe. This manoeuvre is called
tus and infraspinatus and teres in that order (Fig. 1.2). The ‘heel toeing’ and is used in several locations in musculo
examination concludes with an assessment of the posterior skeletal ultrasound. The long-axis image of the tendon is
glenohumeral joint, infraglenoid notch, supraspinatus very useful for confirming integrity; however, as with most
muscle and the acromioclavicular joint, before sweeping tendons, the internal structure is best evaluated in the axial
down to the deltoid insertion. plane.
CHAPTER 1 — Shoulder: Anatomy and Techniques 5
a b c
d e f
g h
i j
Figure 1.2 Standard ultrasound examination positions. (A, B) Dorsum of hand on patient’s knee with some shoulder extension: used to
visualise biceps tendon in short and long axis. (C, D) Shoulder extended, hand by side position for subscapularis (external rotation can also
be used). (E, F) Hand on back pocket: used for supraspinatus short and long axis. (G, H, I, J) Arm across anterior chest for teres minor long
and short axis, supraspinatus muscle belly and acromioclavicular joint.
6 PART 1 — SHOULDER
Deltoid
CHL
Humeral head A
Short head Subscapularis
ML
b P c
Figure 1.3 Position 1: the biceps lies centrally within its groove.
A
S I
b P c
Figure 1.4 Position 2: long axis of biceps with the subacromial subdeltoid bursa just visible anterior to the superior part of the tendon.
When assessment of the long head of biceps is complete, be covered in a later section. The probe is then returned to
the probe is moved medially to locate the short head of the upper biceps to review the rotator interval.
biceps. The bony margin of the coracoid process provides a
very useful landmark. The short head arises from its inferior STANDARD POSITION 2: ROTATOR INTERVAL
margin superficial to the insertion of the pectoralis minor
and coracobrachialis tendons. The tendon of pectoralis IMAGING GOALS
major can be identified as a long, thin slip passing over the 1. Identify ligamentous sling around biceps.
biceps tendon around the level of the proximal musculoten 2. Confirm ligaments are intact.
dinous junction. The more detailed anatomy of the arm will 3. Evaluate Doppler signal.
CHAPTER 1 — Shoulder: Anatomy and Techniques 7
TECHNIQUE
a
Subscapularis arises, as the name suggests, from the under
surface of the scapula and is an internal rotator of the
shoulder. It is a multipennate muscle forming several
Deltoid tendons that insert as a conjoined unit on the medial border
Supraspinatus of the bicipital groove. The tendon measures approximately
8 cm from superior to inferior. Its upper margin is adjacent
Biceps
to the anterior interval. The tendon must be examined in
CHL
A both its long and short axis, as, because of the width of the
Humeral head tendon, significant tears may be present in one location, yet
SCT ML
b P other areas of the tendon will appear completely normal.
Following a successful examination of the biceps tendon
Figure 1.5 Rotator interval image. The coracohumeral ligament re-
inforced by the superior glenohumeral ligament separates supraspi-
and rotator interval, the patient is asked to move their elbow
natus from infraspinatus. posteriorly, then, keeping the elbow firmly by their side, the
shoulder is externally rotated by asking the patient to move
their hand as far as possible laterally. This draws the sub
scapularis out from beneath the coracoid, making it easier
TECHNIQUE to examine in its full extent (Fig. 1.6). Patients with adhesive
As has already been mentioned, the rotator interval is the capsulitis will find it difficult to externally rotate the shoul
name given to the space between the subscapularis and the der, an important initial clue to this diagnosis. Take care to
supraspinatus tendons through which the long head of ensure the patient doesn’t lift their arm to try and simulate
biceps passes as it exits the glenohumeral joint. Because the external rotation.
tendon undergoes a 90° turn as it enters the bicipital groove, In the axial plane, the normal bright reflective tendon
it must be supported to ensure that it does not displace should be followed from musculotendinous junction to
medially. Two ligaments in particular combine to create insertion. In some normal patients, and patients with
this support, which is also referred to as the rotator pulley chronic tendinopathy, the tendon may be very thin and dif
(Fig. 1.5). The two ligaments are the coracohumeral and ficult to separate from the surrounding bursa. If there is any
the superior glenohumeral ligaments. The pulley is also doubt as to its integrity, moving the tendon by internal/
reinforced by fibres of the subscapularis tendon passing external rotation easily separates it from surrounding struc
superficially to the coracohumeral ligament and inserting tures and isolates what is tendon and what is surrounding
on the lateral aspect of the groove. These fibres are some bursa.
times erroneously referred to as the transverse ligament. Once the axial view is completed, the probe is rotated 90°
The patient position is the same as for the biceps tendon. to assess the tendon in its short or sagittal axis. The examiner
The rotator interval is best evaluated with the probe in the should be careful not to displace the probe too far laterally
axial plane, positioned just above the upper part of the beyond the subscapularis insertion and into the supraspina
biceps groove. In this position, a rim of tissue is seen around tus tendon. In the short axis, the subscapularis tendon is
the biceps tendon, between the subscapularis medially and recognized by its multifascicular pattern (Fig. 1.7). It should
the supraspinatus laterally. This ‘rim’ represents the con be examined from upper to lower border. If the upper
joined coracohumeral and superior glenohumeral liga border cannot be clearly defined, it is brought more inferi
ments and the bridging subscapularis fibres. The margins orly by further posterior movement of the elbow. Sharp
of the coracohumeral ligament can usually be identified definition of the upper border is important, as many injuries
with good-quality equipment. It measures approximately begin at the upper border of the tendon. The normal upper
1.5 mm in thickness and should have the striated, predomi border should have a nice rounded margin and the biceps
nantly reflective appearance typical of ligaments elsewhere. tendon should lie just above and lateral to it. The relation
It should have little or no Doppler activity within it. ship of the upper border of the tendon and the rotator
On the medial aspect of the interval, particularly at its interval is also easier to appreciate in this position.
uppermost extent, the contribution from the superior gle In addition to examining the tendon, the underlying
nohumeral ligament can be identified. This is seen as a humeral head should be scrutinized; that said, it is not
nodule of tissue often inserting itself just underneath the uncommon to identify asymptomatic surface defects. The
biceps tendon and blending with the coracohumeral liga anterior compartment of the glenohumeral joint lies deep
ment, from which it is often difficult to separate. Note to the subscapularis, although visualization of the anterior
should be made of thickening or abnormal Doppler activity labrum is insufficient for reliable diagnosis. Capsular con
in and around the coracohumeral ligament, before moving densations representing the middle glenohumeral ligament
the probe medially to assess subscapularis. may be seen. Anteriorly, the subacromial subdeltoid bursa
8 PART 1 — SHOULDER
Deltoid
ursa
SASD B
Short head
ris
ula
c ap A
bs Humeral
Su head M L
P
b c
Figure 1.6 External rotation draws the subscapularis tendon laterally out from under the coracoid. This image is obtained just below the tip
of the coracoid, demonstrating the proximal portions of short head of biceps and coracobrachialis muscle.
Bursa
SASD Subscapularis Deltoid
BT
A Humeral head
S I
b P c
Figure 1.7 In short axis, subscapularis muscle is multipennate, forming an elongated tendon that inserts in a slight depression on to the neck
of the humerus.
b c
Figure 1.8 Extending and internally rotating the shoulder draws the supraspinatus forward and laterally from under the coracoacromial arch.
The biceps tendon provides a key landmark identifying the rotator interval with subscapularis medially and supraspinatus laterally.
Deltoid
Ten Supraspinatus
don
foo
tpri Art
nt icu
lar
S Car
Humeral head tila
LM ge
b I c
Figure 1.10 A slight ridge is noted between the articular surface of the humeral head and the supraspinatus footprint. Note the low-reflective
articular cartilage ending just proximal to the medial point of the insertion of supraspinatus.
ultrasound image mimics the coronal image seen on MRI The articular cartilage of the humeral head will be seen
(Fig. 1.10). It will be noted that the probe is actually held deep and medial. The cartilage is hyporeflective, though
in a tilted rather than true coronal plane, and even quite with high-resolution equipment will be noted to have a thin
sagittal in some patients, depending on the degree of shoul bright reflective surface. Deeper again, the highly reflective
der internal rotation. If there is uncertainty, the biceps surface of the humeral head is noted. The subacromial
tendon can be located anteriorly and the probe gently subdeltoid bursa lies superficially, and overlying this is the
rotated until the best longitudinal view of biceps is achieved. deltoid muscle.
The same angle is then used to examine supraspinatus in There is a modification of Position 4 whereby the forearm
the coronal plane. under examination is held further across the back in the
In the coronal position, supraspinatus has a very charac so-called armlock position. In some patients the ‘hand on
teristic appearance. Its upper border is convex with a bright pocket’ is better than the armlock for visualizing pathology
margin representing the subacromial subdeltoid bursa. The and vice versa in others. In all patients, both arm positions
tendon fibres can be seen arching towards its insertion onto should be used and the tendon should be observed under
the greater tuberosity and should have a predominantly movement as the hand passes between the two. Patients
bright, reflective, striated appearance. Two distinct layers of quickly become familiar with the names of the two positions
the tendon are frequently observed in this position. The and easily understand when movement between the two
more medial fibres have to turn more acutely than the positions is needed. The examiner can then concentrate on
lateral fibres to insert and so reflectivity at the insertion is observing the tendon during this movement. More exten
variable, usually ranging from dark medially to brighter and sive dynamic movements are also helpful to depict pathol
more normal laterally, depending on the orientation of the ogy (these will be described in a later section).
probe. This is a form of anisotropy, which can be problem Although the majority of supraspinatus fibres are orien
atic at many tendon insertions. Dynamic probe manipula tated in the coronal plane, there are some that have
tion with heel toeing, beam steering and lateral movement more transverse orientation. These are referred to as the
are combined with slight movement of the patient’s shoul rotator cable and are said to have an important role in
der and can help to overcome this problem. determining both the location and rate of propagation of
The insertion of supraspinatus in this position is called rotator cuff tears.
the footprint. It measures approximately 2 cm medial to The subacromial subdeltoid bursa overlies the supraspi
lateral. It should be examined carefully, anterior to poste natus tendon in the coronal plane. It is a low-reflective
rior, to ensure that the entire footprint has been visualized. structure itself but it is surrounded by reflective fat and con
Particular attention should be paid to the medial margin of nective tissue. The bursa should be traced laterally by
the joint surface where tears may begin. These tears are moving the probe around the greater tuberosity and into
sometimes referred to as ‘rim-rent’ tears. The coronal image the upper arm. In the seated patient, small quantities of
is best for examining the lateral margin of supraspinatus fluid gravitate in these dependent areas. Care must be taken
insertion but poor at demonstrating the leading edge. The not to apply too much pressure with the transducer and
axial image works in the opposite way. underestimate the size or presence of bursal fluid. The
CHAPTER 1 — Shoulder: Anatomy and Techniques 11
Deltoid
Figure 1.11 The low-signal subacromial subdeltoid bursa is
assessed adjacent to the coracoacromial ligament. The thickness is
noted at rest and in arm abduction. Bursal bunching may be demon-
atus
strated in patients with impingement, although this is not always Infraspin
associated with symptoms. The schematic diagram demonstrates the
location and appearance of bursal bunching with thickening of the
bursa lateral and thinning inferior and medial to the coracoacromial Humeral head P
ligament. ML
A
b
a a
Deltoid
Deltoid
IST
IST
TM
Triceps
P
P
ML
A S I
b b A
Figure 1.13 The spinoglenoid notch is located on the posterosupe-
rior aspect of the scapula. It is located by moving the probe a little
medially and superiorly from the position used to locate the infraspi-
natus tendon. The glenohumeral joint and glenoid labrum (postero-
superior part) are identified.
TECHNIQUE
The final examination position is also posterior. Having
completed the examination of teres minor in the sagittal
plane, the probe is once again rotated into the axial plane
and moved superiorly, passing above the spine of the scapula
into the area of the supraspinatus muscle belly. This is par
ticularly important in patients with rotator cuff tears, as
associated muscle atrophy can be detected here (Fig. 1.15).
a
The bulk and reflectivity of the muscle are compared with
the overlying trapezius muscle. The ease and clarity with
which the central tendon is visualized is also useful; increas
ing fatty atrophy absorbs the ultrasound beam and blurs the
margins of the central tendon, making it appear larger than Trapezius
normal. The margins of the muscle also be come less clear.
Having assessed the muscle in both long and short axes
(Fig. 1.16), the probe is moved laterally to overlie the acro
mioclavicular joint. It is easy to locate the joint by passing
the probe along the clavicle until the joint is encountered SSM
(Fig. 1.17). The normal joint margins are smooth, although
the capsule will frequently bulge a little upwards. The
margins of the joint are assessed for osteophytes and ero
sions and the joint cavity itself should be reviewed to detect
effusion and synovitis. More important than abnormal joint
morphology, gentle compression with the ultrasound probe S
over the joint may reproduce symptoms, if they arise, from ML
the joint. The acromioclavicular joint is also examined I
b
dynamically. The patient is asked to move their arm from its
position across the chest to the ipsilateral knee, then back
to the contralateral shoulder. This cycle is repeated and
note is made of the relative movement of the lateral aspect
of the clavicle with respect to the acromium. Under normal
circumstances the two bones will approximate slightly,
though some superior/inferior movement may be observed.
When subluxation is present, the lateral end of the clavicle
deviates upwards and there will be abnormal movement of
the capsule and synovial contents.
Clavicle Acromium
a
S
ML
b I
Trapezius
SSM
S
P A
I c
b
Figure 1.17 The acromioclavicular joint is located in long axis on
Figure 1.16 The bulk in reflectivity of supraspinatus muscle can also
the superior aspect of the shoulder. The superior coracoclavicular
be assessed in short axis. The muscle generally should fill the arch
ligament overlies, demarcating the upper aspect of the joint space.
between the spine and upper border of the body of the scapula.
The deltoid ligament attaches to the lateral aspect of the acromion.
observed and movement between the planes of supraspina If fluid is present in the bursa it can be used dynamically
tus and the subacromial subdeltoid bursa is particularly to assist in the differentiation of cuff tears. Bursal fluid
useful at differentiating bursal surface partial tears from located in the dependent position can be massaged into a
areas of bursal thickening. If the abnormal tissue moves more useful location on the superior aspect of the tendon
synchronously with the supraspinatus tendon, it is a partial with lateral compression on the outer aspect of the patient’s
tear. If the tendon moves independently of the tissue then shoulder. The patient can even be positioned in a prone
the abnormality is likely to represent an area of bursal recumbent position, although this is rarely necessary. Fluid
thickening. movement, combined with sonopalpation and patient move
In addition to using patient movement, the compress ment, may either fill a previously unrecognized tear or dem
ibility of the underlying tissue can be assessed using sono onstrate that an apparent partial tear is in fact complete, by
palpation. Sonopalpation refers to the cyclical compression showing a fluid connection between the bursa and joint.
and release of probe pressure, while observing the behaviour In addition to fluid that is already present within the
of the underlying tissue. Normal and minimally diseased bursa, if the patient undergoes diagnostic or therapeutic
tissue is poorly compressible. The fibres will respond syn bursal injection, the fluid introduced can be used to identify
chronously and continuity is preserved. With more advanced more subtle pathology, especially of the bursal surface. It is
stages of tendinopathy, the tendon becomes increasingly helpful to re-examine the biceps tendon sheath when par
compressible and the behaviour of the underlying fibre is ticulate corticosteroids are injected into the bursa. If the
more abnormal. Structural integrity is poorly preserved reflective steroid is identified in the glenohumeral joint or
during compression. the biceps tendon sheath, a full-thickness tear is confirmed.
CHAPTER 1 — Shoulder: Anatomy and Techniques 15
CHAPTER OUTLINE
16
CHAPTER 2 — Shoulder 1: Supraspinatus Tendon 17
BONY IMPINGEMENT
Multiple factors have been implicated in the aetiology of
impingement and rotator cuff disease. Attention is fre
quently drawn to the shape of the acromion, although it is
Figure 2.1 Sagittal diagram of rotator cuff tendons. The tendons of
subscapularis, supraspinatus and infraspinatus merge together to
now generally accepted that, apart from extremes, changes
form the cuff. There is an anterior opening to allow egress of the long in the acromion are secondary to impingement rather than
head of biceps. This is called the anterior interval. a primary cause. Bony irregularity on the undersurface of
the acromion can arise as a result of enthesopathy at the
coracoacromial ligament attachment. In extreme cases,
a distinct bony spur may be present, leading to further nar
impingement. A variety of clinical tests have been described rowing of the subacromial space. Entheseal changes may
to detect impingement. These are fairly reliable in detecting also occur at the humeral insertion of the involved tendons.
a problem beneath the arch, but less reliable at determining Bony upgrowth from the humeral head combines with bony
the full extent of the problem. This then becomes the downgrowth from the acromion leading to further diminu
most important goal for imaging, differentiating patients tion in the subacromial space, increased bursal impinge
with simple bursitis from those who have progress towards ment and progressive supraspinatus tendinopathy (Fig.
tendinopathy or, more importantly, rotator cuff tears. If a 2.2). Although bony and entheseal factors have been shown
tear is present, secondary goals include determining whether to narrow the subacromial space, it is probable that they are
it is partial or full thickness, the size and full extent of the not the most important.
tear and the presence of chronic features such as muscle
atrophy and arthropathy. The importance of these second
SICK SCAPULA
ary features depends on other factors such as the age of the
patient, their activity, the acute nature of any underlying
injury and local surgical preferences. This is particularly Key Point
variable with partial thickness tears. In some countries these
are managed surgically, particularly if they involve more Two factors that are almost certainly more important than
than 50% of attending thickness, whilst in other countries acromial shape and enthesopathy in the aetiology of rotator
they are managed the same way as focal tendinopathy. cuff disease are genetic factors and scapulothoracic
Indeed, in some descriptions, the meaning of partial thick dyskinesia.
ness tear and focal tendinopathy is the same. Furthermore,
18 PART 1 — SHOULDER
I see increasing reason to believe that the view formed some time
back as to the origin of the Makonde bush is the correct one. I have
no doubt that it is not a natural product, but the result of human
occupation. Those parts of the high country where man—as a very
slight amount of practice enables the eye to perceive at once—has not
yet penetrated with axe and hoe, are still occupied by a splendid
timber forest quite able to sustain a comparison with our mixed
forests in Germany. But wherever man has once built his hut or tilled
his field, this horrible bush springs up. Every phase of this process
may be seen in the course of a couple of hours’ walk along the main
road. From the bush to right or left, one hears the sound of the axe—
not from one spot only, but from several directions at once. A few
steps further on, we can see what is taking place. The brush has been
cut down and piled up in heaps to the height of a yard or more,
between which the trunks of the large trees stand up like the last
pillars of a magnificent ruined building. These, too, present a
melancholy spectacle: the destructive Makonde have ringed them—
cut a broad strip of bark all round to ensure their dying off—and also
piled up pyramids of brush round them. Father and son, mother and
son-in-law, are chopping away perseveringly in the background—too
busy, almost, to look round at the white stranger, who usually excites
so much interest. If you pass by the same place a week later, the piles
of brushwood have disappeared and a thick layer of ashes has taken
the place of the green forest. The large trees stretch their
smouldering trunks and branches in dumb accusation to heaven—if
they have not already fallen and been more or less reduced to ashes,
perhaps only showing as a white stripe on the dark ground.
This work of destruction is carried out by the Makonde alike on the
virgin forest and on the bush which has sprung up on sites already
cultivated and deserted. In the second case they are saved the trouble
of burning the large trees, these being entirely absent in the
secondary bush.
After burning this piece of forest ground and loosening it with the
hoe, the native sows his corn and plants his vegetables. All over the
country, he goes in for bed-culture, which requires, and, in fact,
receives, the most careful attention. Weeds are nowhere tolerated in
the south of German East Africa. The crops may fail on the plains,
where droughts are frequent, but never on the plateau with its
abundant rains and heavy dews. Its fortunate inhabitants even have
the satisfaction of seeing the proud Wayao and Wamakua working
for them as labourers, driven by hunger to serve where they were
accustomed to rule.
But the light, sandy soil is soon exhausted, and would yield no
harvest the second year if cultivated twice running. This fact has
been familiar to the native for ages; consequently he provides in
time, and, while his crop is growing, prepares the next plot with axe
and firebrand. Next year he plants this with his various crops and
lets the first piece lie fallow. For a short time it remains waste and
desolate; then nature steps in to repair the destruction wrought by
man; a thousand new growths spring out of the exhausted soil, and
even the old stumps put forth fresh shoots. Next year the new growth
is up to one’s knees, and in a few years more it is that terrible,
impenetrable bush, which maintains its position till the black
occupier of the land has made the round of all the available sites and
come back to his starting point.
The Makonde are, body and soul, so to speak, one with this bush.
According to my Yao informants, indeed, their name means nothing
else but “bush people.” Their own tradition says that they have been
settled up here for a very long time, but to my surprise they laid great
stress on an original immigration. Their old homes were in the
south-east, near Mikindani and the mouth of the Rovuma, whence
their peaceful forefathers were driven by the continual raids of the
Sakalavas from Madagascar and the warlike Shirazis[47] of the coast,
to take refuge on the almost inaccessible plateau. I have studied
African ethnology for twenty years, but the fact that changes of
population in this apparently quiet and peaceable corner of the earth
could have been occasioned by outside enterprises taking place on
the high seas, was completely new to me. It is, no doubt, however,
correct.
The charming tribal legend of the Makonde—besides informing us
of other interesting matters—explains why they have to live in the
thickest of the bush and a long way from the edge of the plateau,
instead of making their permanent homes beside the purling brooks
and springs of the low country.
“The place where the tribe originated is Mahuta, on the southern
side of the plateau towards the Rovuma, where of old time there was
nothing but thick bush. Out of this bush came a man who never
washed himself or shaved his head, and who ate and drank but little.
He went out and made a human figure from the wood of a tree
growing in the open country, which he took home to his abode in the
bush and there set it upright. In the night this image came to life and
was a woman. The man and woman went down together to the
Rovuma to wash themselves. Here the woman gave birth to a still-
born child. They left that place and passed over the high land into the
valley of the Mbemkuru, where the woman had another child, which
was also born dead. Then they returned to the high bush country of
Mahuta, where the third child was born, which lived and grew up. In
course of time, the couple had many more children, and called
themselves Wamatanda. These were the ancestral stock of the
Makonde, also called Wamakonde,[48] i.e., aborigines. Their
forefather, the man from the bush, gave his children the command to
bury their dead upright, in memory of the mother of their race who
was cut out of wood and awoke to life when standing upright. He also
warned them against settling in the valleys and near large streams,
for sickness and death dwelt there. They were to make it a rule to
have their huts at least an hour’s walk from the nearest watering-
place; then their children would thrive and escape illness.”
The explanation of the name Makonde given by my informants is
somewhat different from that contained in the above legend, which I
extract from a little book (small, but packed with information), by
Pater Adams, entitled Lindi und sein Hinterland. Otherwise, my
results agree exactly with the statements of the legend. Washing?
Hapana—there is no such thing. Why should they do so? As it is, the
supply of water scarcely suffices for cooking and drinking; other
people do not wash, so why should the Makonde distinguish himself
by such needless eccentricity? As for shaving the head, the short,
woolly crop scarcely needs it,[49] so the second ancestral precept is
likewise easy enough to follow. Beyond this, however, there is
nothing ridiculous in the ancestor’s advice. I have obtained from
various local artists a fairly large number of figures carved in wood,
ranging from fifteen to twenty-three inches in height, and
representing women belonging to the great group of the Mavia,
Makonde, and Matambwe tribes. The carving is remarkably well
done and renders the female type with great accuracy, especially the
keloid ornamentation, to be described later on. As to the object and
meaning of their works the sculptors either could or (more probably)
would tell me nothing, and I was forced to content myself with the
scanty information vouchsafed by one man, who said that the figures
were merely intended to represent the nembo—the artificial
deformations of pelele, ear-discs, and keloids. The legend recorded
by Pater Adams places these figures in a new light. They must surely
be more than mere dolls; and we may even venture to assume that
they are—though the majority of present-day Makonde are probably
unaware of the fact—representations of the tribal ancestress.
The references in the legend to the descent from Mahuta to the
Rovuma, and to a journey across the highlands into the Mbekuru
valley, undoubtedly indicate the previous history of the tribe, the
travels of the ancestral pair typifying the migrations of their
descendants. The descent to the neighbouring Rovuma valley, with
its extraordinary fertility and great abundance of game, is intelligible
at a glance—but the crossing of the Lukuledi depression, the ascent
to the Rondo Plateau and the descent to the Mbemkuru, also lie
within the bounds of probability, for all these districts have exactly
the same character as the extreme south. Now, however, comes a
point of especial interest for our bacteriological age. The primitive
Makonde did not enjoy their lives in the marshy river-valleys.
Disease raged among them, and many died. It was only after they
had returned to their original home near Mahuta, that the health
conditions of these people improved. We are very apt to think of the
African as a stupid person whose ignorance of nature is only equalled
by his fear of it, and who looks on all mishaps as caused by evil
spirits and malignant natural powers. It is much more correct to
assume in this case that the people very early learnt to distinguish
districts infested with malaria from those where it is absent.
This knowledge is crystallized in the
ancestral warning against settling in the
valleys and near the great waters, the
dwelling-places of disease and death. At the
same time, for security against the hostile
Mavia south of the Rovuma, it was enacted
that every settlement must be not less than a
certain distance from the southern edge of the
plateau. Such in fact is their mode of life at the
present day. It is not such a bad one, and
certainly they are both safer and more
comfortable than the Makua, the recent
intruders from the south, who have made USUAL METHOD OF
good their footing on the western edge of the CLOSING HUT-DOOR
plateau, extending over a fairly wide belt of
country. Neither Makua nor Makonde show in their dwellings
anything of the size and comeliness of the Yao houses in the plain,
especially at Masasi, Chingulungulu and Zuza’s. Jumbe Chauro, a
Makonde hamlet not far from Newala, on the road to Mahuta, is the
most important settlement of the tribe I have yet seen, and has fairly
spacious huts. But how slovenly is their construction compared with
the palatial residences of the elephant-hunters living in the plain.
The roofs are still more untidy than in the general run of huts during
the dry season, the walls show here and there the scanty beginnings
or the lamentable remains of the mud plastering, and the interior is a
veritable dog-kennel; dirt, dust and disorder everywhere. A few huts
only show any attempt at division into rooms, and this consists
merely of very roughly-made bamboo partitions. In one point alone
have I noticed any indication of progress—in the method of fastening
the door. Houses all over the south are secured in a simple but
ingenious manner. The door consists of a set of stout pieces of wood
or bamboo, tied with bark-string to two cross-pieces, and moving in
two grooves round one of the door-posts, so as to open inwards. If
the owner wishes to leave home, he takes two logs as thick as a man’s
upper arm and about a yard long. One of these is placed obliquely
against the middle of the door from the inside, so as to form an angle
of from 60° to 75° with the ground. He then places the second piece
horizontally across the first, pressing it downward with all his might.
It is kept in place by two strong posts planted in the ground a few
inches inside the door. This fastening is absolutely safe, but of course
cannot be applied to both doors at once, otherwise how could the
owner leave or enter his house? I have not yet succeeded in finding
out how the back door is fastened.