title: Correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and clinical impairment in patients with adhesive capsulitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between clinical impairment and MRI findings in patients with adhesive capsulitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Contrast-enhanced MRI of 97 patients with a clinical diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis (AC) were retrospectively reviewed. Specific MRI criteria, including thickness and gadolinium enhancement of the joint capsule in the axillary recess and subcoracoid fat obliteration in the rotator interval, were correlated with limited range of motion (ROM) and pain. Other variables considered in this study were rotator cuff pathology, arm dominance, diabetes mellitus, age, and gender. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic and linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thickening of the joint capsule in the axillary recess correlated with limited external rotation (p < 0.01), gender (p < 0.01) and arm dominance (p < 0.05). Gadolinium enhancement of the joint capsule in the axillary recess correlated with pain intensity (p < 0.05). Subcoracoid fat obliteration in the rotator interval was not correlated with limited ROM or pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI can be a useful technique to assess several clinical impairment measures in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Thickening and gadolinium enhancement of the joint capsule in the axillary recess on MRI are associated with limited ROM and pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine 126-1, 5-ga Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-705, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Chang Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yu-Whan
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Woong-Kyo
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002062:Bursitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic