SHOULDER Flashcards
What are the 4 most common causes of shoulder pain in primary care?
Rotator cuff disorders
Glenohumeral disorders
Acromioclavicular joint disease
Referred neck pain
What forms the shoulder joint?
An articulation between the head of the humerus and the glenoid cavity of the scapula - the head of the humerus is much larger than the glenoid fossa to give the joint a wide range of movement but to reduce the disproportion in surfaces, the glenoid fossa is deepened by the glenoid labrum, a fibrocartilage rim
The articulating surfaces are covered with hyaline cartilage
Ligaments in the shoulder joint?
Glenohumeral ligaments
Coracohumeral ligament
Transverse humeral ligament
Coracoacromial ligament
What are the Glenohumeral ligaments and where are they?
Superior middle and inferior Glenohumeral ligaments - they extend from the humerus to the glenoid fossa on the anterior surface of the shoulder
They act to stabilise the anterior aspect of the joint
Where is the coracohumeral ligament and whats the function?
It extends from the base of the coracoid process to the greater tubercle of the humerus
Supports the superior part of the joint capsule
Where is the transverse humeral ligament and whats the function?
Extends between the 2 tubercles of the humerus
It golds the tendon of the long head of the biceps in the inter tubercular groove
Where is the coracoacromial ligament and whats the function?
It extends between the acromion and coracoid process of the scapula, forming an arch-like structure over the shoulder joint
It resists superior displacement of the humeral head
What is the coracoclavicular ligament and what is it made up of?
The ligaments running from the coracoid process to the underside of the clavicle
It’s made up of the conoid ligament and the trapezoid ligament
What are the bursae within the shoulder joint?
subacromial bursa
subscapular recess
Others:
subcoracoid bursa
coracoclavicular bursa
supra-acromial bursa
Where is the subacromial bursa located and what is the function?
Located deep to the deltoid and acromion, and superficial to the supraspinatus tendon and joint capsule
Reduces fraction beneath deltoid, promoting free motion of the rotator cuff tendons
Where is the subscapular bursa located and what is the function?
Located between the subscapularis tendon and the scapula
Reduces friction on the tendon during movement of the shoulder joint
What movements can the shoulder do?
Extension and flexion
Abduction and adduction
Internal and external rotation
Circumduction
Muscles involved in extension of the shoulder?
Posterior deltoid
Latissimus dorsi
Teres major
Muscles involved in flexion of the shoulder?
Pectoralis major
Anterior deltoid
Coracobrachialis
Muscles involved in abduction of the shoulder?
First 0-15 degrees - supraspinatus
15-90 degrees - middle fibres of deltoid
>90 degrees - scapula needs to be rotated so trapezius and serratus anterior
Muscles involved in adduction of the shoulder?
Pectoralis major
Latissimus dorsi
Teres major
Muscles involved in internal rotation of the shoulder?
Subscapularis
Pectoralis major
Latissimus dorsi
Teres major
Anterior deltoid
Muscles involved in external rotation of the shoulder?
Infraspinatus and teres minor
What type of joint is the shoulder?
Ball and socket
Muscles of the rotator cuff?
SItS
Supraspinatus (posterior)
Infraspinatus (posterior)
Teres minor (posterior)
Subscapularis (anterior)
Function of supraspinatus muscle (in regards to the shoulder)?
Abducts arm first 15 degrees
Function of infraspinatus muscle (in regards to the shoulder)?
External rotation
Function of teres minor muscle (in regards to the shoulder)?
Adduction and external rotation
Function of subscapularis muscle (in regards to the shoulder)?
Adduction
Internal rotation
What are the diseases recognised under the term “rotator cuff injury”?
Subacromial impingement syndrome
Calcific tendinitis
Rotator cuff tears
Rotator cuff arthropathy
What is shoulder impingement syndrome aka?
Rotator cuff tendinopathy
Subacromial impingement
Painful arc syndrome
Why is the supraspinatus tendon most commonly implicated in the pathology of shoulder impingement syndrome?
as it runs directly beneath the overhanging acromion, and so is especially predisposed to damage
What is the most common cause of shoulder pain?
Subaromial impingement
What are the 2 key mechanisms proposed for shoulder impingement syndrome?
Extrinsic compression
Intrinsic degeneration
What is the extrinsic compression mechanism for the pathology behind shoulder impingement syndrome?
Direct compression of the rotator cuff tendons against surrounding structures
Congenital or acquired anatomical variations in shape and gradient of the acromion
Reduction in function of scapular muscles that normally allow the humerus to move past the acromion on overhead extension
Abnormalities of glenohumeral joint or weakness in rotator cuff muscles = superior subluxation of the humerus = dynamic narrowing od the subacromial space
What is found within the subacromal space?
Rotator cuff tendons
Long head of the biceps tendon
Coraco-Acromial ligament
Subacromial bursa
What is the intrinsic compression mechanism for the pathology behind shoulder impingement syndrome?
These are factors specific to the rotator cuff tendon themselves causing degeneration of tendons
Muscle weakness and muscle imbalances
Overuse of shoulder e.g. repetitive micro trauma causing inflammation of tendons and bursa
Tears in the rotator cuff which causes proximal migration of the humeral head
Risk factors for shoulder impingement syndrome?
Repetitive above-shoulder activity - e.g. work related or sports related e.g. swimming or throwing
Acromioclavicualr joint arthritis
Physiological hooked acromion shape
Age related degeneration and reduced elasticity of supraspinatus tendon
?Smoking - reduces healing capacity of tendon
Trauma
Who does shoulder impingement syndrome usually present in?
Under 25s - active individuals or in manual professions
Presentation of shoulder impingement syndrome?
Shoulder pain that is gradual but progressive, localised over the deltoid region and top of shoulder. May be pain at night. Worse during overhead activity. Better with rest. May radiate down upper arm
Significant pain may cause symptoms similar to weakness but no true shoulder weakness will be present unless the pt had progressed to having a significant rotator cuff tear
Movements may be limited by pain but no true stiffness unless pt has progressed to rotator cuff tendinopathy and fibrosis
Special tests for subacromial impingement?
Neer’s impingement test
Hawkin’s-Kennedy impingement test
Painful arc test
Jobe’s test
How do you carry out Neer’s impingement test?
Dr stabilises the scapula with 1 hand and passively flexes the arm whilst it is internally rotated.
positive if there is pain in the anterolateral aspect of the shoulder.
How do you carry out the Hawkins-Kennedy test?
Shoulder and elbow are flexed to 90 degrees with the examiner then stabilising the humerus and passively internally rotates the arm
Positive if pain in anterolateral aspect of shoulder
What is the painful arc test?
Instruct pt to abduct arm
Positive test if pt experiences pain between 60-120 degrees of abduction which reduces once past 120 degrees
What is jobes test?
Aka empty can test
Arm should be elevated to 90 degrees with the elbow extended, in full internal rotation and pronation of the forearm = thumbs down position as if pouring liquid out of a can
Stabilise the shoulder and apply a downwards pressure to the arm as the pt try’s to resist this motion
Test is positive if pt experiences pain
Investigations for ?shoulder impingement syndrome?
Clinical diagnosis
It can be confirmed with MRI imaging
Management of rotator cuff disorders?
Rest and avoiding activities that exacerbate symptoms
Analgesia - paracetamol -> oral NSAID
Physiotherapy for 6 weeks
Consider a subacromial corticosteroid injection
If it persists >6 months without response to above Tx then surgical intervention is recommended.
What is calcific tendinitis?
Which tendon is most often involved?
Calcification and tendon degeneration near the rotator cuff insertion
Supraspinatus tendon