SHOULDER CLAVICLE BRACHIAL DISORDERS Flashcards
rotator cuff muscles
Subscapularis (anterior)
Supraspinatus (posterior)
Infraspinatus (posterior)
Teres minor (posterior)
shoulder muscles
Rotator Cuff Muscles = Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, Subscapularis Pec Major Biceps Deltoid Trapezius Serratus Anterior Rhomboid
shoulder conditions
Trauma Over-use Instability Fractures Age-related processes Nerve injuries
AC SEPARATION / AC JOINT DISLOCATION / SHOULDER SEPARATION
- Typically as a result of falling directly on the tip of the shoulder; direct blow to adducted shoulder
- Acromioclavicular joint separation (possibly along with coracoclavicular joint); due to sprain or actual rupture
grades I-III of AC separation
Grade I = AC ligament sprain; have a normal CXR
Grade II = AC ligament rupture & CC ligament sprain (Coracoclavicular ligament); have slight widening on CXR
Grade III = AC & CC ligament rupture; have significant widening on CXR
AC ligament rupture & CC ligament sprain (Coracoclavicular ligament); have slight widening on CXR
grade II AC separation
AC & CC ligament rupture; have significant widening on CXR
grade III AC separation
AC ligament sprain; have a normal CXR
grade I AC separation
CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF AC JOINT SEPARATION
- pain with lifting arm & unable to lift arm @ shoulder
- tenderness at the AC joint
- may or may not have a deformity at the AC joint
- pain with ADDUCTION of the shoulder (putting arm back down)
what tests are positive with AC separation
+ cross arm test
+ Paxinos test
cross arm test = tests
AC joint disorder
AC Separation treatment
- brief sling immobilization (x 1-2 weeks)
- Rest, Ice, NSAIDS
- The return to play / activity is determined by the patient’s comfort level
- Weaver-Dunn procedure = if pain persists despite conservative management = take coracoacromial ligament to reconstruct the CC ligament
what is the Weaver-Dunn procedure and when is it performed
if pain persists despite conservative management for shoulder joint separation = take coracoacromial ligament to reconstruct the CC ligament
most common location for clavicular fracture
mid-shaft
medial clavicular fracture = uncommon
CLAVICLE FRACTURE MOA
- Similar mechanism of injury as AC joint separation, except the energy passes through bone instead of a ligament, causing a fracture
- mid / high energy impact to the area
- MC in males
- in children < 2 = suspect child abuse
- Also rarely treated with surgery, just like AC joint separation
**MC fractured bone in children, adolescents, and newborns (during birth)
CLAVICLE
clinical findings of clavicular fracture
⦁ tenderness to palpation over clavicle fracture site
⦁ pain with adduction of the shoulder (just like with AC joint separation)
⦁ patient will be sitting with shoulders rolled forward
⦁ deformity at fracture site - possible “TENTING” of the skin
figure of 8 sling
for clavicle fracture
clavicle fracture treatment
- Rest, Ice, NSAIDS
- sling for comfort - figure-of-8 sling in children
- return to activity in about 8 weeks
- rarely treated with surgery; may be needed if significant displacement
what is rotator cuff tendonitis
- overuse injury
- most common in adults in 4th-5th decades of life; also seen in throwing athletes (pitchers)
- often the result of inability to train appropriately during off season for athletes
MOA = inflammation of the cuff tendon
rotator cuff tendonitis = rotator cuff tendinopathy = rotator cuff bursitis
- RC tendonitis = inflammation usually associated with sub-acromial bursitis
***MC rotator cuff tendon injury = Supraspinatus
most common tendon injured/torn in rotator cuff
supraspinatus
clinical presentation of rotator cuff tendonitis
⦁ development of pain after an aggravating activity, such as painting the house
⦁ pain can be insidious without specific injury
⦁ localized to the anterior lateral aspect of the shoulder
⦁ pain = worse with reaching overhead or behind the body
⦁ pain at night - difficulty sleeping
⦁ patients grab deltoid, but this is not an issue with the deltoid muscle, but that the pain is radiating down from the rotator cuff to the deltoid
BOARD QUESTION = shoulder pain + can’t sleep
rotator cuff injury!!!!!
supraspinatus strength test
empty can test
impingement tests for subscapular nerve / supraspinatus
Hawkins & Neers test
rotator cuff tendonitis PE
- tenderness to palpation over the greater tuberosity or bicipital groove
- full range of motion, but painful arc of motion and elevation
- pain with resisted supraspinatus testing
- no weakness on exam
⦁ + Hawkins test - tests impingement of subscapular nerve/supraspinatus (chicken wing)
⦁ + Neers test - tests impingement of subscapular nerve/supraspinatus (arm straight up)
- hold shoulder down on patient to prevent shrugging
⦁ + drop arm test = pain with inability to lift arm above shoulder level, and severe pain when lowering arm after shoulder is abducted
Since most common location = supraspinatus = can do empty can test = supraspinatus strength test
rotator cuff tendonitis treatment
⦁ Rest, ice, NSAIDS, maybe stop the offending activity
⦁ PT for rotator cuff strengthening exercises
⦁ can do subacromial steroid injections if not improving or if pain severe at night
- if still not getting better = may have a rotator cuff tear instead of tendonitis
external rotation of shoulder with elbow bent at 90 = strengthens____________
infraspinatus & teres minor
internal rotation of shoulder with elbow bent at 90 = strengthens _______________
subscapularis
arm straight out at 30 degrees in front of you & pronated = strengthens _____________
supraspinatus (empty can test)
ROTATOR CUFF TEAR
- Most commonly a degenerative process, with tears occurring as a result of breakdown of the tendon and eventual wearing out
MC torn rotator cuff tendon
Supraspinatus
then infraspinatus, then subscapularis
Rotator cuff tendon more commonly torn as a result of trauma
Subscapularis
rotator cuff tear = very uncommon before age
30
RISK FACTORS FOR TORN ROTATOR CUFF
⦁ Age
⦁ Smoking
⦁ Fall
main difference between rotator cuff tendonitis vs tear
WEAKNESS with tear
clinical presentation of rotator cuff tear
similar to rotator cuff tendonitis)
- pain with reaching overhead
- NIGHT PAIN
- WEAKNESS
- pain over anterior lateral aspect of shoulder
- pain radiates to the deltoid insertion - so pts often holding on to their deltoid
- pain can be insidious, or as a result of trauma, such as a fall or after lifting something
- may have felt a pop or tearing sound at time of injury
CLINICAL EXAM OF ROTATOR CUFF TEAR
- similar exam to tendonitis, with exception of WEAKNESS of affected rotator cuff (tendonitis = just pain, but tear = both pain + weakness)
- FULL PASSIVE ROM, but limited active ROM (whereas tendonitis = full range of motion)
⦁ Weakness in external rotation = Infraspinatus tear
⦁ Weakness with empty can = Supraspinatus tear
⦁ Weakness with internal rotation = Subscapularis
⦁ + Neers Test
⦁ + Hawkins Test
⦁ Lift off test & Belly Compression test = tests Subscapularis
⦁ Bear Hugger Test = tests subscapularis too
Xray may have subtle findings, but most of the time = negative
- would see disruption of shenton’s line
internal rotation muscles
subscapularis + pec major
so internal rotation tests - test subscapularis tendon with rotator cuff injuries
treatment for rotator cuff tear
- Rest, Ice, NSAIDS
- PT for rotator cuff strengthening
- Subacromial steroid injection
- MRI to evaluate size of rotator cuff tear or to rule it in
- surgical repair of rotator cuff (if severe)