Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Diagnosing and Evaluating Shoulder Joint Ligaments and Tendons Injuries among Iraqi Patients

Abstract

The approach to diagnosing and treating shoulder joint injuries and their consequences, should be based on optimal utilization of modern methods and techniques. A specialist in radio diagnostics can provide the clinician with a comprehensive rationale for the selection and appropriate use of modern conservative or surgical treatments for shoulder joint injuries and their consequences. Different studies that assess the role of MRI in shoulder injuries and diseases documented that MRI is a gold standard for the evaluation of rotator cuff tears, labral injuries, biceps tendon pathologies and others. It is highly sensitive to soft tissue pathologies with excellent resolution that provide a precise characterization and localization of lesions. We conducted a cross-sectional study with consecutive sampling technique included 60 Iraqi patients with different shoulder joint ligaments and tendons injuries during a period of 12 months to whom magnetic resonance imaging was performed. The study findings revealed that Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a supportive role in diagnosing, grading and arrangement of treatment in patients with shoulder joint injuries. Advancing age and male gender were more likely to have positive MRI findings. Rotator cuff was the most affected than other muscles in shoulder joint injuries and the supraspinatus was the most frequent site among Iraqi patients. We suggested using MRI in each suspected case of shoulder joint problem and conducting further studies in multiple centers for more precise evaluation.