O aumento da incidência de traumas de alta energia esta relacionado com o crescimento da prevalência de lesões raquimedulares ocasionando seqüelas motoras nos membros. O programa de reabilitação proporciona perspectiva de melhora da qualidade de vida, colaborando para a reintegração social desses indivíduos. As síndromes dolorosas dos ombros são freqüentes nos pacientes lesados medulares, independentemente do programa de reabilitação adotado. No presente estudo, avaliou-se por meio da ultrassonografia, 32 ombros de 16 pacientes com lesão medular com localização anatômica entre C4 e T12, em reabilitação no DOT/HC-UNICAMP, constatando-se alterações nos tendões dos músculos do manguito rotador em 46,88% e nas tuberosidades umerais em 12,50% dos pacientes estudados. As alterações foram mais prevalentes entre os tetraplégicos. A execução de medidas analgésicas, fortalecimento dos músculos do manguito rotador quando possível e alterações posturais podem significar diminuição na ocorrência das síndromes dolorosas dos ombros, melhorando o aproveitamento do programa de reabilitação e com ganhos na qualidade de vida.

Study design: A retrospective cohort. Objectives: To report the incidence rates of shoulder injuries diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in tetraplegic athletes and sedentary tetraplegic individuals. To evaluate whether sport practice increases the risk of shoulder injuries in tetraplegic individuals. Setting: Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Ten tetraplegic athletes with traumatic spinal cord injury were selected among quad rugby athletes and had both the shoulders evaluated by MRI. They were compared with 10 sedentary tetraplegic individuals who were submitted to the same radiological protocol. Results: All athletes were male with a mean age of 32.1 years (range 25-44 years, s.d. = 6.44). Time since injury ranged from 6 to 17 years, with a mean value of 9.7 years and s.d. of 3.1 years. All sedentary individuals were male with a mean age of 35.9 years (range 22-47 years, s.d. = 8.36). Statistical analysis showed a protective effect of sport in the development of shoulder injuries, with a weak correlation for infraspinatus and subscapularis tendinopathy (P = 0.09 and P = 0.08, respectively) and muscle atrophy (P = 0.08). There was a strong correlation for acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) and labrum injuries (P = 0.04), with sedentary individuals at a higher risk for these injuries. Conclusion: Tetraplegic athletes and sedentary individuals have a high incidence of supraspinatus tendinosis, bursitis and ACJ degeneration. Statistical analysis showed that there is a possible protective effect of sport in the development of shoulder injuries. Weak evidence was encountered for infraspinatus and subscapularis tendinopathy and muscle atrophy (P = 0.09, P = 0.08 and P = 0.08, respectively). Strong evidence with P = 0.04 suggests that sedentary tetraplegic individuals are at a greater risk for ACJ and labrum injuries.