Arthrographic findings in hemiplegic shoulders.

To discover the influence of hemiplegia on arthrographic changes in hemiplegic shoulders, we compared arthrographic findings from paralyzed and nonparalyzed shoulders in 77 patients with hemiplegia. The correlation between arthrographic changes in paralyzed shoulders and characteristics of the hemiplegic condition was also investigated. Hemiplegic changes were considered to be responsible for adhesive changes in affected shoulders because those changes were found in paralyzed shoulders at a statistically significant higher rate (54.6%) than in the nonparalyzed side (32.5%). The occurrence rate of contrast leakage from capsule tear on the subscapular bursa and the bicipital tendon sleeve was higher on the nonparalyzed side than on the paralyzed side. It is suggested that capsular contracture due to hemiplegia prohibits capsular tear during arthrographic maneuvers. No significant difference was found in the occurrence of rotator cuff tear between the paralyzed and the nonparalyzed shoulder. Those changes on the paralyzed side were not correlated with any characteristics of hemiplegics except for shoulder pain prior to the onset of hemiplegia.