Tendon and ligament injuries of shoulder joint: new era of diagnosis and management

Background: MRI and ultrasound are now widely used for the detection of tendon and ligament abnormalities.
Purpose: Aim of study to evaluated the beneficial role of MRI in investigation and management of the tendon and ligament injuries of shoulder joint.
Methods: This study is cross-sectional study in Basrah Teaching Hospital of cases with shoulder pain aged ranged from 18-70 years, in the period from August 2022 to August 2023. Patients underwent a full history and physical examination with guide of questionnaire. 3.0-Tesla MRI (Philips, Netherland) was used.
Results: The mean age of patients was 45.7±13.2 years. Right side shoulder affected by 72.5% and left side affected in 27.5% of patients. Regarding the finding by MRI, 20.9% were normal in examination, biceps tenosynovitis were seen in 6.5%, 45 patients had rotator cuff injury, 11(17.8%) patients with tendenopathy, 27 (43.6%) had partial tear and 11.2% with complete tear. More than half in supraspinatus muscle (51.2%), 24.4% in infraspinatus muscle, 20% in subscapular and 4.4% in teres minor muscle. Conclusions: MRI have an supportive role in diagnoses grading and treatments arrangement of shoulder joint injuries. MRI is required in order to evaluate the joint in more detailed manner than other modalities. MRI findings most seen in older age group more than forty years. Rotator cuffs are effected more than other muscles in shoulder and supraspinatus is common site.