CLINICAL CARE OF THE SHOULDER Flashcards
What results from a fall onto the tip of the shoulder resulting in variable degrees of ligamentous disruption?
Acromioclavicular (AC) Injury
What type of AC injury is where the AC ligaments are partially disrupted and Coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments are intact and there is no superior separation of of the clavicle from the acromion?
Type 1 AC injury
What type of AC injury is when the AC ligaments are torn and the CC ligaments are intact resulting in partial separation of the clavicle from the acromion?
Type 2 AC injury
What type of AC injury is where the AC and CC ligaments are completely disrupted resulting in complete separation of the clavicle from the acromion?
Type 3 AC injury
What type of AC injury is where the AC and CC ligaments are completely disrupted with superior and prominently posterior displacement?
Type 4 AC injury
What type of AC injury is where the AC and CC ligaments are completely disrupted with CC interspace more than twice as large as the opposite shoulder?
Type 5 AC injury
What type of AC injury is uncommon, the clavicular periosteum and/or deltoid and trapezius muscle are torn resulting in wide displacement, the clavicle lies in either the subacromial or subcoracoid space?
Type 6 AC injury
What type of AC injuries will present with obvious deformities?
Type 3-6
A patient presents supporting the arm in the abducted position and the distal clavicle is prominent and superior to the acromion, What type of AC injury would be suspected?
Type 2 AC injury
True or False
AC Injury
Patients with have full range of motion (ROM) but any motion, especially abduction, causes pain
True
Elevating the arm or depressing the clavicle will temporarily reduce the AC except in what type of AC injuries?
Type 4-5
True or False
AP and axillary radiographs of bilateral shoulders confirm type 2-6 AC separations
True
In what type of AC injuries are radiographs negative and they are primarily diagnosed with clinical presentation and history?
Type 1
In what AC injury can some AC joint widening be seen on radiographs?
Type 3
What is the treatment for Type 1-2 AC injuries?
- Sling 24-48 hours
- Ice
- Analgesics
- Home exercise program that focuses on ROM and strengthening
- Return to full duty as pain permits, usually within 4 weeks
What is the treatment for a Type 3 AC Injury?
- Controversial for non-surgical vs. surgical intervention
- Ortho consult
- Sling 24-48 hours
- Ice
- Analgesics
- ROM and strengthening exercises
- LLD until ortho eval
What is the treatment for Type 4-6 AC injuries?
- Ortho consult, will need surgery
- Sling until ortho eval
- Ice
- Analgesics
- LLD until ortho eval
- MEDEVAC
What types of AC injuries require an ortho eval?
Type 3-6
What is the most common bony injury?
Clavicle fracture
Fractured clavicles are classified based on anatomic location; the middle third, distal third, and proximal third; What is the most common location?
Middle third
A patient presents with a bony deformity over the left clavicle, drooping shoulder on the same side, as well as grinding noted when the patient attempts to move the affected arm/shoulder; What would the most likely diagnosis be?
Clavicle fracture
True or False
Clavicle Fracture
Assess axillary, musculocutaneous, median, ulnar and radial nerve function distal to the fracture, additionally assess radial pulse and capillary refill
True
A positive cross-body test with possible grinding may be noted in a patient with a possible clavicular fracture but is usually not required if what is noted?
Obvious deformity
What radiographic views confirm most clavicle fractures?
- AP
2. 10 degree cephalic tilt
What is the treatment for clavicle fractures?
- Ice
- analgesics
- ortho consult
- mid-shaft fracture with minimal displacement and no neurovascular injury
a. figure-of-8 strap for 6-8 weeks
What is the disposition for patients with a clavicle fracture?
MEDEVAC
All fractures require referral
The ________ provides multiple and extreme degrees of functional motion that greatly depend on the rotator cuff muscles to properly seat the humeral head into the glenoid fossa to provide stability
glenohumeral joint
What refers to a combination of shoulder symptoms, exam findings, and radiologic signs attributable to the compression of structures and the glenohumeral joint that occurs with shoulder elevation?
Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS)
These are all common structures impinged within what space?
- subacromial bursa
- tendon of the supraspinatus
- tendon of the infraspinatus
- long head of the biceps tendon
Subacromion space
What type of acromion morphology has a greater association with impingement?
Hooked
A patient presents with a 2 month course of gradual onset of anterior and lateral shoulder pain exacerbated by overhead activity, noting pain at night and difficulty sleeping on the affected side; what is the most likely diagnosis?
Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS)
Patients with what syndrome will normally have tenderness to palpation over the greater or lesser tuberosity and the bicipital groove?
Shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS)
Typically patients with SIS typically have full ROM but can be possibly limited due to pain, but pain will be worse between what degrees of abduction and when lowering the arm?
90-120 degrees
True or False
SIS
Flexion and abduction will be limited by pain
True
What special tests would you perform for a patient with suspected SIS?
- Neers
2. Hawkins
True or False
SIS
AP and axillary radiographs usually show abnormalities
False
Radiographs are usually normal
In radiographs of the shoulder for a patient with suspected SIS narrowing of the sub acromial space suggests what?
Long standing rotator cuff tear
In radiographs of the shoulder for a patient with suspected SIS narrowing of the sub acromial space suggests what?
Long standing rotator cuff tear
What imaging is helpful in establishing the exact soft tissue pathology for a patient with suspected SIS?
MRI with gadolinium
What is the treatment for SIS?
- NSAIDS
- ice
- LLD to avoid offending activities
- Home exercises: stretches and strengthening
- PT consult if failed local management
A patient with SIS should be referred where if conservative management is failed after 2-3 months or other pathology is suspected?
Ortho
Acute injuries to the rotator cuff do occur but most injuries are age related such as what?
- tendon degeneration
- chronic mechanical impingement
- altered blood supply to the tendons
Rotator cuff tears generally originate with the what and may progress posteriorly and anteriorly?
Supraspinatus