Shoulder imaging abnormalities in individuals with paraplegia

Shoulder pain and rotator cuff tears are highly prevalent in individuals with paraplegia (PP). The purpose of this study was to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), plain radiographs, questionnaires, and physical examination to gain insight into the prevalence of shoulder disorders in individuals with PP. A total of 28 individuals with PP was recruited (mean age=35; mean year from injury=11.5). Each subject completed a questionnaire designed to identify arm pain, had a standard physical examination focusing on the shoulder, and underwent imaging studies (radiographic and MRI). Nine of the thirty-two subjects (36 percent) experienced shoulder pain in the month prior to testing. The MRI studies documented only one rotator cuff tear. Five subjects showed osteolysis of the distal clavicle by plain radiographic study. In two subjects this was seen bilaterally. Although no relationship was seen between pain and imaging abnormalities, stepwise linear regressions found a statistically significant positive relationship between imaging abnormalities and body mass index (BMI) (radiographic: beta= 0.56, p<0.01; MRI: beta=0.52, p<0.01). This study found a low prevalence of rotator cuff tears and a high prevalence of distal clavicle osteolysis in a sample of relatively young individuals with PP. Although there was only one tear identified by MRI, a number of subclinical abnormalities were seen and found to correlate with BMI.