Adhesive capsulitis: Utility of magnetic resonance imaging as a primary diagnostic tool and clinical management support

Abstract

Objective

Adhesive capsulitis (AC) has traditionally been a clinical diagnosis characterized by progressive shoulder pain and decreased range of motion. Our aim is to examine the role of shoulder MRI in making the diagnosis of AC, and to identify the frequency of cases where MRI was the primary method in diagnosing AC amongst medical providers.

Methods

This was an anonymized retrospective analysis. Patients with positive MRI features suggestive for AC from 2015 to 2018 were included. Pre and post MRI clinical notes were assessed in order to ascertain the clinical suspicion of AC. A total of 117 cases were included for this study.

Results

Our results demonstrated the number of patients whose management were influenced by shoulder MRI. When all of the imaging parameters by MRI are taken into account by aggregate, there is a statistically significant difference (p-value < 0.01) with regards to orthopedists having their working diagnosis of AC confirmed by the MRI results as compared to the primary care physicians.

Conclusion

This study supports the role of shoulder MRI in the evaluation of AC. Not only does shoulder MRI assist ordering clinicians with providing additional evidence to support a suspected diagnosis of AC, but also plays a primary role in making the diagnosis of AC in cases in which it was not initially suspected, ultimately impacting management.