Shoulder pain and disability: comparison with MR findings

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Musculoskeletal Diseases

Background:

• Shoulder pain significantly impacts patient quality of life and functional ability.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a key diagnostic tool for evaluating shoulder pathology.
• Patient-reported outcome measures, like the L'Insalata Self-Administered Questionnaire (SAQ), are crucial for assessing disability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between patient-reported disability from shoulder pain (using the SAQ) and objective findings on shoulder MRI.
• To determine if rotator cuff tear characteristics (location, size) align with patient-symptom reporting.

Main Methods:

• 1079 patients undergoing shoulder MRI completed the L'Insalata SAQ.
• Data were analyzed using cross-tabulation and multivariable linear regression.
• Comparison focused on SAQ scores versus MRI-identified rotator cuff tears, bursitis, and biceps tendinopathy.

Main Results:

• No significant statistical relationship was found between SAQ-reported pain/disability and the location/size of full-thickness rotator cuff tears on MRI.
• Supraspinatus tendon lesions and bursitis were statistically linked to pain and disability, but with minimal contribution to overall symptoms.
• Biceps tendinopathy did not correlate with increased pain compared to intact biceps tendons or tears.

Conclusions:

• The size and location of full-thickness rotator cuff tears on MRI do not statistically correlate with patient-reported pain and disability.
• While certain MRI findings like bursitis and supraspinatus lesions show a link to symptoms, their impact is limited.
• This suggests a complex interplay of factors influencing shoulder pain perception beyond structural tear characteristics.