Common upper limb conditions Flashcards
What is subacromial impingement syndrome?
A painful condition of the shoulder involving narrowing of the subacromial space
Can be primary or secondary
What is primary subacromial impingement?
Structural abnormalities
(bone spurs, bursal swelling)
What is secondary subcromial impingement?
Functional deficits
(rotator cuff weakness, instability, scapular dyskinesis)
What is the most common gender and age for subacromial impingement?
M>F 2:1
25-40 years
What is the aetiology of subacromial impingement?
Intrinsic, extrinsic and combined factors
Rotator cuff or biceps pathology
Scapular dyskinesis
Shoulder instability
SLAP lesions
Capsular restriction
Thoracic posture and hypomobility
What are the risk factors of subacromial impingement?
Intrinsic
Tendon histology
Age
Genetics
Extrinsic
Muscle extensibility
Anatomical osseous
GH joint kinematics
Posture/ergonomics
What is the pathophysiology of subacromial impingement?
Chronic repetitive process in which the conjoint tendon of the rotator cuff undergoes repetitive compression and micro trauma as it passes under the coracoacromial arch
What is the onset of subacromial impingement?
Acute or insidious
What are the clinical features of subacromial impingement?
Typically diffuse
Usually in ant/sup/lat aspect of shoulder
Worse with overhead movements, lifting and reaching, sleeping on affected shoulder
Pain often radiates to the elbow or neck
Painful arc (between 70-120 degrees)
What are the ROM and findings with subacromial impingement?
ROM:
Limited
Pain &/or capsular restriction
Findings:
Muscle weakness
Scapular dyskinesis
Thoracic spine dysfunction
What is rotator cuff tendinopathy?
Inflammation of the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles
What is the aetiology of rotator cuff tendinopathy?
Occur secondary to direct trauma
Poor throwing mechanics
Extrinsic compression
Intrinsic mechanisms
Vascular changes
Due to age related changes
Age, sex, genetics
Collagen disorientation and myxoid degeneration
What is the pathophysiology of rotator cuff tendinopathy?
Repetitive rotator cuff injury triggers a recurrent pathological cycle that results in acute on chronic tendonitis
Combination of extrinsic impingement from structures surrounding he cuff and intrinsic degeneration from changes within the tendon itself
What is the onset of rotator cuff tendinopathy?
Insidious
Can predispose complete/partial tears which present acute pain
What are the clinical features of rotator cuff tendinopathy?
Pain:
With overhead activities
Painful arc on abduction 70-120 degrees
Sleeping on affected side
Referred pain into the arm, chest wall or neck
ROM:
Reduced
What are the clinical findings with rotator cuff tendinopathy?
Reduced ROM
Muscle weakness
Scapular dyskinesis
Thoracic spine dysfunction
Tenderness over RC tendons and insertions
Positive impingement, muscle specific, and reactive resisted testing
What is bicep tendinopathy?
Inflammation or degeneration of the long head of biceps tendon
What is the most common gender and age for biceps tendinopathy?
M>F 2:1
20-30 years
What is the aetiology of biceps tendinopathy?
Repetitive overhead activities
Overuse
Direct trauma
What are the risk factors for biceps tendinopathy?
Athletes in sport likes tennis, swimming, or baseball
Older age
Poor shoulder mechanics
What is the pathoanatomy of biceps tendinopathy?
Inflammation, microtears, or degeneration in the biceps tendon
Particularly where it travels through the bicipital groove
What is the pathophysiology of biceps tendinopathy?
Repeated stress or trauma leads to inflammation followed by degenerative changes in the tendon, resulting in pain and functional impairment
What are the clinical features of biceps tendinopathy?
Anterior shoulder pain, especially with overhead movements
Tenderness in bicipital groove
Pain on resisted shoulder flexion
Becomes sharp with certain movements (shoulder flexion, forearm supination)
Typical pattern of radiation: down towards elbow
Muscle weakness
+/- localised swelling, morning stiffness, palpable crepitation
Positive biceps pathology tests
What are the aggravating factors of biceps tendinopathy?
Overhead and repetitive activities, reaching, pulling and lifting, sleeping on the affected side
What is an acromioclavicular joint sprain?
Injury to AC joint ligaments
What gender and age are most common for AC sprains?
M>F 5:1
15-25 years
What is the aetiology of AC joint sprains?
Direct trauma to the shoulder, such as fall on shoulder or direct blow
What are the risk factors for AC joint sprains?
Contact sports
Falls
Accidents
What is the pathoanatomy of AC sprains?
Damage to the AC and CC ligaments, potentially leading to joint instability
What is the pathophysiology of AC joint sprains?
Mechanical: repetitive overload causes degeneration and inflammation
Neurogenic: neural mechanisms mediate a response to repetitive load
Apoptosis: cell death and remodelling augmented by repetitive strain
Vascular: vascular disruption leading to tendon degeneration
What are the clinical features of AC sprains?
Pain over AC joint
Localised pain over AC joint; worse with movement (horizontal flexion)
Palpable tenderness
+/- step deformity
+/- swelling, bruising, soft tissue injury
What can recurrent injuries to the AC joint cause?
Predispose OA
What are the classifications of AC sprains?
- Sprain of joint capsule
- Complete tear of AC ligaments with sprain of CC ligaments
3-5. Complete tears of the AC and CC ligaments