Relationship between Spinal Cord Injury or Dysfunction and Quantitative Ultrasound Features of Rotator Cuff Health in Manual Wheelchair Users

Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering & Applied Science, Mentor, Poster Presentation, School and College, Siong, Jake, Slavens, Brooke, Student, Van De Wege, Matthew

Matthew Van De Wege and Jake Siong, “Relationship between Spinal Cord Injury or Dysfunction and Quantitative Ultrasound Features of Rotator Cuff Health in Manual Wheelchair Users”
Mentor: Brooke Slavens, Biomedical Engineering
Poster #202

Manual wheelchair use is thought to contribute to a high prevalence of rotator cuff pathology in persons with spinal cord injury or dysfunction (SCI/D). The rotator cuff stabilizes the glenohumeral joint, which is the weight-bearing joint during wheelchair propulsion, like the hip during walking. Maintaining healthy shoulders is critical for individuals who rely on manual wheelchairs for mobility. There may be differences in shoulder health outcomes based on whether onset of SCI/D was before or after age 18. This study aimed to compare quantifiable features of rotator cuff health in persons with pediatric and adult-onset SCI/D. 51 individuals with SCI/D underwent musculoskeletal ultrasound of the bilateral shoulders. Thicknesses of the supraspinatus and subscapularis rotator cuff tendons and acromiohumeral distance were measured. The subacromial space occupation ratio was computed as a measure of risk for subacromial impingement, a common shoulder pathology in manual wheelchair users. Manual wheelchair users with adult-onset SCI/D had thicker supraspinatus (0.63±0.11 cm) tendons than adults (0.50±0.08 cm) and children (0.45±0.07 cm) with pediatric-onset SCI/D. Those with adult-onset SCI/D also had thicker subscapularis tendons (0.53±0.11 cm) than adults (0.51±0.08 cm) or children (0.46±0.14 cm) with pediatric-onset. Acromiohumeral distance was larger in adult-onset SCI/D (1.22±0.21 cm) than in adults (0.97±0.26 cm) or children (0.98±0.21 cm) with pediatric-onset. The subacromial occupation ratio was similar in adult-onset SCI/D (57.1±12.1%) and in adults with pediatric-onset SCI/D (55.7±13.5%) and greater than in children (49.8±16.4%). This is the first attempt to quantify and compare rotator cuff parameters in manual wheelchair users with different ages at onset of SCI/D. Findings in those with adult-onset SCI/D were consistent with greater risk for rotator cuff pathologies. These results will lead to a better understanding of how rotator cuff health is affected by long-term wheelchair use and inform further research that seeks to prevent or treat shoulder pathologies.