Ultrasonographic findings of shoulders in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Objective

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

Design

A cross-sectional descriptive studySetting: Srinagarind hospital, ThailandParticipants: 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.