J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  1999 Jun;23(3):622-629.

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of the Painful Hemiplegic Shoulder

• Kim SK
• Lee KL
• Han GS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to know the usefulness of ultrasonographic evaluation of hemiplegic shoulder pain. METHOD: For 20 hemiplegic patients with shoulder pain, the shoulder was evaluated by simple radiographic findings, physical examinations, visual analogue scale (VAS), manual muscle test (MMT), and finally the ultrasonographic examination to define shoulder pain nature. The ultrasonographic results were compared to the simple radiography, physical examination, VAS, and MMT.
RESULTS
The ultrasonographic findings were variable. The positive ultrasonographic findings were 10 joint fluid collections, 3 tendinous thickenings, 4 high echogenic findings, 4 tendon surface defects, 2 tendinous gracilings, and 1 joint surface irregularity. The ultrasonographic interpretative conclusion included 6 tendon (or muscle) tears, 2 degenerative changes, 5 nonspecific simple joint fluid collections, and 7 normal shoulder joints. In comparison of ultrasonographic findings and subluxation, VAS, and fluid collection, VAS showed relatively higher correlation.
CONCLUSION
The ultrasonography is very useful as a non-invasive, inexpensive, painless, and rapid screening diagnostic method for the evaluation of painful hemiplegic shoulder.

Keyword

Ultrasonography; Hemiplegic shoulder pain; Subluxation; Visual analogue scale (VAS); Joint fluid collection

MeSH Terms

Humans
Joints
Mass Screening
Physical Examination
Radiography
Shoulder Joint
Shoulder Pain
Shoulder*
Tendons
Ultrasonography