MRI findings in the painful hemiplegic shoulder.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in painful hemiplegic shoulder (PHS) in hemiplegic post-stroke patients.


METHODS
Patients with hemiplegia following their first cerebrovascular accident who were admitted to the Sarah Network of Hospitals for Rehabilitation were studied. Forty-five patients with pain in the hemiplegic shoulder and 23 post-stroke patients without shoulder pain were investigated. MRI and radiographic findings of the hemiplegic and contralateral asymptomatic shoulders were evaluated.


RESULTS
Some MRI findings were more frequent in PHS group, including synovial capsule thickening, synovial capsule enhancement, and enhancement in the rotator cuff interval.


CONCLUSIONS
Adhesive capsulitis was found to be a possible cause of PHS.
Távora
D G F
DG
Department of Radiology, Sarah Network of Hospitals for Rehabilitation, Av. Juscelino Kubitschek 4500, Fortaleza, Brazil. dgtavora@gmail.com
Gama
R L
RL
Bomfim
R C
RC
Nakayama
M
M
Silva
C E P
CE
D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*