Rotator Cuff Lesion in Wheelchair Users with Spinal Cord Injury: Does Time of Injury and Medullary Level Interfere? A Retrospective Evaluation / Lesão do manguito rotador em cadeirantes com lesão medular: O tempo de lesão e o nível medular interferem? Uma avaliação retrospectiva

Abstract Objective To describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of shoulders from patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to correlate these findings with age, duration of SCI and neurological level. Method The study sample included patients with thoracic SCI over 18 years of age, who were active wheelchair users and had undergone an MRI of the shoulder from January 2004 to December 2015. Results We studied 41 shoulders (37 patients), including 27 men (65.9%) and 14 women (34.1%). At the time of MRI, the mean age was 41.9 years and the mean duration of SCI was 9.4 years. The analysis of the relationship between the duration of trauma and severity of the rotator cuff lesion (RCL), as well as between age and the severity of the shoulder injury showed a statistically significant difference (p< 0.001), with a positive association in both cases. No statistically significant difference (p= 0.095) was observed between the neurological level of the SCI and RCL. Conclusion In this study, a progressive increase in the severity of the shoulder lesions can be noted with advancing age and a longer duration of SCI. However, level of the SCI does not seem to interfere with RCL. Level of Evidence Level IV, case series.

Resumo Objetivo Descrever as características de ressonância magnética (RM) dos ombros de pacientes com lesão medular (LM) e correlacionar esses achados com idade, duração da LM e nível neurológico. Método A amostra do presente estudo incluiu pacientes maiores de 18 anos com LM torácica, que eram cadeirantes ativos e haviam sido submetidos a uma ressonância magnética do ombro de janeiro de 2004 a dezembro de 2015. Resultados Foram estudados 41 ombros (37 pacientes), incluindo 27 de pacientes do sexo masculino (65,9%) e 14 de pacientes do sexo feminino (34,1%). Na época da ressonância magnética, a média de idade era de 41,9 anos e a duração média da LM era de 9,4 anos. A análise da relação entre a duração do trauma e a gravidade da lesão do manguito rotador (LMR), bem como entre a idade e a gravidade da lesão do ombro mostrou diferença estatisticamente significativa (p< 0,001), com associação positiva em ambos os casos. Não foi observada diferença estatisticamente significativa (p= 0,095) entre o nível neurológico da LM e da LMR. Conclusão Neste estudo, pode-se notar um aumento progressivo da gravidade das lesões do ombro com o avanço da idade e uma maior duração da LM. No entanto, o nível da LM não parece interferir com a LMR. Nível de Evidência Nível IV, série de casos.

Sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography in diagnosing supraspinatus lesions: a prospective accuracy diagnostic study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: This study was designed to define the accuracy of shoulder ultrasonography for diagnosing supraspinatus tendon tears. This examination is routinely used by orthopedists and may do away with the need for other examinations for diagnosing these tendon injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of shoulder ultrasonography for diagnosing supraspinatus tendon injuries, using magnetic resonance imaging as the reference. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective accuracy study at a single center: the Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Clinic of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology. METHODS: Shoulder ultrasonography was performed on 80 patients of both genders, over 18 years of age, with complaints of shoulder pain and clinically suspected supraspinatus tendon lesions. Jobe's test and a full can test were performed. In addition, they underwent magnetic resonance imaging in a 3.0-tesla machine, as the reference standard. The examinations were performed and interpreted by radiologists. RESULTS: Ultrasonography showed sensitivity of 36.3% and specificity of 91.7% for supraspinatus tears overall: sensitivity of 25.8% and specificity of 91.8% for partial tears and sensitivity of 46.2% and specificity of 100% for full-thickness tears. Ultrasonography showed high accuracy for diagnosing full-thickness tears: 91.3%. The p-values were 0.003 for tears overall, 0.031 for partial tears and < 0.001 for full-thickness tears. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonography showed low sensitivity for detecting supraspinatus tears, but high specificity for both partial and full-thickness tears.