Ultrasonographic findings of shoulders in individuals with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective: To investigate shoulder ultrasonography findings in spinal cord injury (SCI) and identify factors associated with ultrasongraphic abnormalities.

Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study

Setting: Srinagarind hospital, Thailand

Participants: Spinal cord injury patients who attended the Srinagarind Hospital rehabilitation department.

Outcome Measures: Baseline characteristics, physical examination, Physical Examination of the Shoulder Scale (PESS), and the ultrasonography of both shoulders of SCI patients were prospectively evaluated.

Results: Ninety-one SCI patients were enrolled in this study, (56 with paraplegia and 35 with quadriplegia). Most patients in both groups had incomplete SCI. Wheelchairs were the most commonly used assistive devices in both groups. The top three ultrasonographic abnormalities in patients with quadriplegia were unilateral subdeltoid-subacromion bursitis (65.7%), unilateral supraspinatus tendinosis (45.7%), and unilateral biceps tendon effusion (37.2%). The most common abnormalities in those with paraplegia were unilateral subdeltoid-subacromion bursitis (64.3%), unilateral biceps tendon effusion (55.4%), and unilateral supraspinatus tendinosis (53.6%).

Conclusions: Abnormal shoulder US findings were prevalent in individuals with SCI. The most common ultrasonographic abnormalities in patient with SCI was unilateral subdeltoid-subacromion bursitis.

Keywords:

• Spinal cord injury
• Shoulder pain
• Ultrasonography
• Rotator cuff disease
• Subdeltoid bursitis

Additional information

Funding

This study was granted by the Faculty of Medicine Research Fund, Khon Kaen University [IN 60304].