Reliability of high-resolution ultrasound and magnetic resonance arthrography of the shoulder in patients with sports-related shoulder injuries

Physical therapy management of an athlete with a Kim lesion using physical agents, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise: a case report

BACKGROUND

Several operative procedures have been described for treating a Kim lesion. However, no physical therapy intervention has been documented as conservative treatment for these cases.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this report was to describe a physical therapy management protocol for an athlete with a Kim lesion.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 22-year-old female volleyball athlete presented to physical therapy with an 8-month history of right shoulder pain when performing the serve and attack sports gestures. Pain was 5/10 on the visual analogue scale (VAS). Pain was localized along the glenohumeral joint, around the long head of the biceps brachii tendon, and at the subscapularis tendon insertion. Shoulder range of motion (ROM) was limited to flexion (150°), abduction (158°), and internal rotation (80°). Kim lesion was confirmed by clinical tests (Kim test and Jerk test) and via magnetic resonance imaging. Shoulder functional outcomes were verified through the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale. Upper extremity sensorimotor control was verified in bimanual support by stabilometry on a baropodometer. Core function was assessed through a plank test and a side plank test. The 8-week course of treatment included manual therapy, physical agents, shoulder and scapular mobilizations, resistance and sensorimotor exercises, core strengthening, and functional exercises.

OUTCOMES

Physical therapy interventions resulted in a decrease in VAS pain (3/10), an increase in shoulder ROM (10.8°) and in UCLA shoulder score (from 22 to 33 points), a reduction in the center of pressure displacement (27-56%), and an increase in plank test (45%) and side plank test (21-29%) performance. The athlete had a full return to sport after the treatment.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that the protocol used for conservative management of Kim lesion resulted in clinical satisfactory physical and functional outcomes for the athlete.

Trends in MR Arthrogram Utilization at a Tertiary Care Academic Center

The purpose is to evaluate the trends in MR arthrogram utilization at a tertiary care academic institution and to determine if there are factors that can be implicated in the utilization trends. Number of MR arthrograms of the shoulder, hip, and elbow from 2013-2020 at our institution were identified (n = 1882). Patient demographics including age, sex, sports participation, history of prior surgery, and physician referral were obtained. Descriptive statistics were performed to determine the prevalence of MR arthrograms. Linear regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship of time with prevalence of arthrograms. Chi-square tests and posthoc analyses with Bonferroni correction were used to assess if categorical variables were different between the years. There was overall decrease in the prevalence of MR arthrograms of the shoulder, hip, and elbow despite an increase in the overall MR volume during the study period. Linear regression models significantly predicated decrease in arthrogram prevalence with each passing year (P < 0.001). The percentage of orthopedic referrals for arthrograms in the hip (P = 0.002) and shoulder (P = < 0.001) decreased significantly towards the end of the study period. None of the other variables assessed were significant. At our tertiary care academic institution, arthrogram utilization has been drastically decreasing over the past 8 years. The percentage of orthopedic referrals for shoulder and hip arthrograms significantly decreased at the end of the study period.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Chronic Shoulder Pain: 2022 Update

Chronic shoulder pain is an extremely common presenting complaint. Potential pain generators include the rotator cuff tendons, biceps tendon, labrum, glenohumeral articular cartilage, acromioclavicular joint, bones, suprascapular and axillary nerves, and the joint capsule/synovium. Radiographs are typically the initial imaging study obtained in patients with chronic shoulder pain. Further imaging may often be required, with modality chosen based on patient symptoms and physical examination findings, which may lead the clinician to suspect a specific pain generator. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.

Ultrasound is more reliable than clinical tests to both confirm and rule out pathologies of the long head of the biceps: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To synthesize the literature and critically appraise current evidence to determine the most accurate physical examination (clinical test or ultrasound) to detect pathologies of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT).

METHODS

A search was performed on PubMed, Embase®, and Cochrane. Studies that compared the diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests or ultrasound versus arthroscopy for the assessment of LHBT pathologies were included.

RESULTS

Seven studies were included reporting on a total of 448 patients. One study on instability using ultrasound reported sensitivity and specificity of 1.00 and 0.96, respectively. Two studies on full-thickness tears using ultrasound reported sensitivity and specificity of 0.88-0.95 and 0.71-0.98, respectively. Four studies on partial-thickness LHBT tears reported sensitivity and specificity of 0.17-0.68 and 0.38-0.92, respectively, for clinical tests, versus 0.27-0.71 and 0.71-1.00, respectively, for ultrasound. Three studies on other LHBT pathologies reported sensitivity and specificity of 0.18-0.79 and 0.53-0.85, respectively, for clinical tests, versus 0.50 and 1.00, respectively, for ultrasound.

CONCLUSION

To detect LHBT pathologies, sensitivity is high-to-excellent using ultrasound, and moderate using Neer's sign and Speed's test, while specificity is high-to-excellent also using ultrasound, as well as the belly press, lift-off and Kibler's tests. The clinical relevance of these findings is that clinical tests are only reliable either to confirm or rule out LHBT pathologies, whereas ultrasound is reliable both to confirm and rule out LHBT pathologies. While diagnostic imaging cannot substitute for patient history and physical examination, the reliability and accessibility of ultrasound render it practical for routine use, particularly if clinical tests render unclear or contradictory findings.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III.

The Prevalence of Shoulder Disorders among Professional Bullfighters: A Cross-Sectional Ultrasonography Study

We aimed to investigate clinical and ultrasound signs of shoulder overuse injuries in professional bullfighters; side-to-side differences (dominant vs. non-dominant); and to determine potential differences according to bullfighters’ categories. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted. Thirty professional and active bullfighters were assessed. A bilateral ultrasound assessment of the subacromial bursa, long biceps head tendon (LHBT), and rotator cuff was performed to determine the presence of bursitis, subluxation, partial or total tendon rupture, tenosynovitis, or calcification. Supraspinatus tendon thickness was measured. Finally, a battery of clinical orthopedic tests (Yergason, Jobe, infraspinatus, Gerber, and bursa tests) were also performed. Most identified ultrasound findings were located in the dominant side, being the presence of bursitis (n = 9; 30%), LHBT tenosynovitis (n = 8; 26.7%), and subscapularis tendon calcification (n = 5; 16.7%) the most prevalent. No side-to-side or between-categories differences were found for supraspinatus tendon thickness (all, p > 0.05). The most frequent positive signs were the infraspinatus test (40.0%), Gerber lift-off test (33.3%), and bursitis, Jobe, and Yergason tests (all, 26.7%). Ultrasound signs were commonly found at LHBT, subacromial bursa, and rotator cuff in professional bullfighters without difference between categories and sides. No side-to-side or between-categories differences were found. Positive clinical test signs suggestive of bursitis, LHBT, and rotator cuff tendinopathy were frequently observed.

3D imaging has good specificity but poor sensitivity for the diagnosis of pathologies of the long head of the biceps: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To systematically review and meta-analyse the literature to determine which three-dimensional (3D) imaging modality provides the best diagnostic accuracy to detect pathologies of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search was performed on PubMed, Embase^®, and Cochrane. Studies that compared the diagnostic accuracy of 3D imaging modalities versus arthroscopy for the assessment of LHBT pathologies were included. Studies assessing superior labral anterior posterior (SLAP) lesions were excluded.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were included; nine were eligible for meta-analysis. Six studies on instability indicated a sensitivity of 0.68 (CI 0.46-0.84) and specificity of 0.76 (CI 0.68-0.82). Four studies on full-thickness tears indicated a sensitivity of 0.56 (CI 0.28-0.81) and specificity of 0.97 (CI 0.93-0.99). Four studies on partial-thickness tears indicated a sensitivity of 0.52 (CI 0.20-0.82) and specificity of 0.64 (CI 0.25-0.91). Two studies on any tear indicated a sensitivity of 0.58 (CI 0.28-0.83) and specificity of 0.99 (CI 0.93-1.00). Only one study on other pathologies indicated a sensitivity of 0.61 and specificity of 0.84.

CONCLUSION

To diagnose LHBT pathologies, 3D imaging modalities overall have low-to-moderate sensitivity, but high-to-excellent specificity. The consistency in reported sensitivity is generally poor, while the consistency and reported specificity is good for the detection of instability, full-thickness tears and any tear, but poor for the detection of partial-thickness tears. 3D imaging may be adequate to rule out LHBT pathologies, but are not sufficiently reliable to confirm the presence of such pathologies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Shoulder pain and ultrasound findings: A comparison study of wheelchair athletes, nonathletic wheelchair users, and nonwheelchair users

BACKGROUND

Shoulder pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal concerns in manual wheelchair users including among athletes. However, there is a paucity of research characterizing both shoulder pain and shoulder pathology in this population.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize and compare the prevalence of current shoulder pain and ultrasound metrics of shoulder pathology between wheelchair athletes, nonathletic wheelchair users, and nonwheelchair users.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

Chicago-area adaptive sport teams/programs and musculoskeletal clinics.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-four wheelchair athletes, six nonathletic wheelchair users, and 12 nonwheelchair users.

METHODS

Self-reported shoulder pain was assessed by questionnaire and Wheelchair User Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI). Shoulder physiology and pathology were assessed by physical and ultrasound evaluation of both shoulders by a sports medicine physician.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Questionnaire outcomes: Prevalence of current shoulder pain, total WUSPI score. Physical examination outcomes: total Physical Examination of Shoulder Scale (PESS) score. Sonographic outcomes: Acromiohumeral distance (AHD) and presence of shoulder pathology.

RESULTS

The majority of wheelchair athletes (68%) and nonathletic wheelchair users (67%) experienced shoulder pain since using a manual wheelchair. Wheelchair basketball players had a mean WUPSI score of 17.2 (SD = 21.8), and athletes participating in handcycling, sled hockey, and quad rugby had mean scores of 4.91 (SD = 8.32), 7.76 (SD = 13.1), and 4.29 (SD = 7.75), respectively. Shoulder pathology was observed in 14 of 31 (45%) wheelchair athletes and 4 of 6 (67%) nonathletic wheelchair users (p = .41).

CONCLUSIONS

Although wheelchair use is a risk factor for shoulder pain, participation in amateur wheelchair sports may not be associated with increased risk of shoulder pain. It is possible that overhead sports such as wheelchair basketball may define a unique high-risk group. Further study is needed to examine this relationship and to determine whether there are differences between specific wheelchair sports.

Three-dimensional SPACE MR with CAIPIRINHA fourfold acceleration for assessing long head of biceps tendon

BACKGROUND

Data regarding controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) T2-weighted sampling perfection with application optimized contrast evolution (SPACE) with fourfold acceleration factor for assessing long head of biceps tendon (LHBT) disorder is lacking.

PURPOSE

To investigate the feasibility of 3D CAIPIRINHA SPACE with fourfold acceleration in assessing LHBT disorder.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 42 consecutive patients underwent shoulder magnetic resonance (MR) examinations including CAIPIRINHA SPACE with fourfold acceleration, and non-CAIPIRINHA SPACE with twofold acceleration, and 2D fast spin echo (FSE). A subjective score of depiction of LHBT was given to 3D sequence according to a 4-point scale (0-3, "poor" to "excellent"). The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare depiction scores between 3D sequences. Three statuses of LHBT were defined in the study: normal, tendonitis, and tear. McNemar's test was used compare diagnostic accuracy.

RESULTS

LHBT was better depicted with CAIPIRINHA SPACE versus non-CAIPIRINHA SPACE (2.1 ± 0.4 vs. 1.5 ± 0.4; P < 0.001). Inter-modality agreement between CAIPIRINHA SPACE and 2D FSE was almost perfect (kappa = 0.884 ± 0.064). The sensitivity and specificity in detecting LHBT disorder were 95% (20/21) and 95% (20/21), respectively, for CAIPIRINHA SPACE, and 71% (15/21) and 76% (16/21), respectively, for non-CAIPIRINHA SPACE (P = 0.039).

CONCLUSION

Fourfold acceleration CAIPIRINHA is feasible in reducing the acquisition time of SPACE MR in the shoulder. 3D CAIPIRINHA SPACE with fourfold acceleration is highly accurate in detecting LHBT disorder.