Abstract
One hundred and ten consecutive patients (51 men, 59 women) admitted to a stroke unit were studied for radiographic changes at the shoulder on the affected side. Malalignment was found in 51 (46%) patients, of whom 37 (72.5%) had changes on the initial x-ray film and a further 14 (27.5) developed malalignment over the following 12 months. These findings indicate that malalignment of the shoulder is common in the early stages of a stroke and may be missed unless radiographs are taken with the patient erect and the arm unsupported. Malalignment may lead to delay and limitation in restoration of function. The consequences of malalignment can be prevented by correct handling, positioning, and full passive movement of the shoulder from the onset of the stroke.
Full text
PDFSelected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Fitzgerald-Finch O. P., Gibson I. I. Subluxation of the shoulder in hemiplegia. Age Ageing. 1975 Feb;4(1):16–18. doi: 10.1093/ageing/4.1.16. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Garraway W. M., Akhtar A. J., Prescott R. J., Hockey L. Management of acute stroke in the elderly: preliminary results of a controlled trial. Br Med J. 1980 Apr 12;280(6220):1040–1043. doi: 10.1136/bmj.280.6220.1040. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MIGLIETTA O., LEWITAN A., ROGOFF J. B. Subluxation of the shoulder in hemiplegic patients. N Y State J Med. 1959 Feb 1;59(3):457–460. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MOSKOWITZ E., BISHOP H. F., PE H., SHIBUTANI K. Posthemiplegic reflex sympathetic dystrophy. J Am Med Assoc. 1958 Jun 14;167(7):836–838. doi: 10.1001/jama.1958.02990240036007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Moskowitz E. Upper extremity complications in hemiplegic patients. Manit Med Rev. 1967 Oct;47(8):448–450. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Moskowitz H., Goodman C. R., Smith E., Balthazar E., Mellins H. Z. Hemiplegic shoulder. N Y State J Med. 1969 Feb 15;69(4):548–550. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- NAJENSON T., PIKIELNY S. S. MALALIGNMENT OF THE GLENO-HUMERAL JOINT FOLLOWING HEMIPLEGIA. A REVIEW OF 500 CASES. Ann Phys Med. 1965 Aug;8:96–99. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/8.3.96. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- TOBIS J. S. Posthemiplegic shoulder pain. N Y State J Med. 1957 Apr 15;57(8):1377–1380. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Taketomi Y. Observations on subluxation of the shoulder joint in hemiplegia. Phys Ther. 1975 Jan;55(1):39–40. doi: 10.1093/ptj/55.1.39. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]