Ultrasonographic imaging in hemiplegic shoulders of stroke patients

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of ultrasound in diagnosing pathologies of shoulders in patients with painful hemiplegic shoulders caused by cerebro-vascular accident (C.V.A.). Methods: Ultrasound (U.S.) was used in forty-one patients with hemiplegic shoulders. Review of patients presenting at our musculoskeletal orthopedic unit. The non-hemiplegic shoulders served as a control group. Results: Ultrasound pathologies were found in thirty-three hemiplegic shoulders and in fifteen non-hemiplegic shoulders. Bicipital tendonitis was the most common finding. Other pathologies included supraspinatus tear, calcification, humeral head irregularities and acromio-clavicular joint (A.C.J.) changes. Conclusions: As in many other soft tissue lesions ultrasonography is a useful and effective tool in evaluation of pathology of hemiplegic shoulders.