Shoulder Common Clinical Presentations Flashcards
List several common clinical presentations of the shoulder complex
- fracture or other bony abnormality
- AC or SC Joint dysfunction
- Scapular dyskinesia
- Rotator cuff lesion
- subacromial pain syndrome
- adhesive capsulitis
- GH instability
- Glenoid labrum lesion
- including SLAP lesions
- Osteoarthropathy
- Biceps tendon lesion
list possible locations for fractures at the shoulder complex
- proximal humerus (~5% in appendicular skeleton)
- clavical (5-10% of all fractures)
- most common in middle 3rd of clavicle
- can damage subclavian artery and brachial plexus
what is FOOSH?
Fall On Outstretched Hand
injury that commonly causes proximal humeral fractures
T/F: fractures of the proximal humerus respond better to surgical interventions and have better outcomes
FALSE
better outcomes with conservative management
with a proximal humeral fracture, what neurovascular structures are commonly injuried?
- Axillary nerve
- circumflex humeral artery
be sure to check sensation/function of axillary nerve and deltoid following a fracture
describe the most common mechanism of injury for SC joint injuries
shoulder forced anteriorly or medially (blow to the posterior shoulder)
very rare injuries
almost always there is a high traumatic force applied
what type of SC joint injury is the most common?
sprains (graded as mild, moderate, or severe depending on ligament damage)
dislocations account for 3% of shoulder girdle dislocations
describe the common clinical presentation of an SC joint injury
- observable deformity
- local tenderness
- pain w/shoulder motion
what is the most common mechanism of injury for AC joint injuries?
fall, sport or MVC related
how are AC joint injuries classified?
by the extent of clavicular displacement
6 types
describe typical physical examination findings with an AC Joint Injury
- weakness and pain w/shoulder motion (AROM or resistive testing)
- local tenderness (+ AC Joint palpation test)
- possible observable deformity
- possible swelling
how are AC joint injuries (types I and II) typically managed?
conservatively
- brief period of immobilization/sling use ~1-2 weeks
- gentle ROM, isometric exercises
- progression to scapular stabilization exercises
how are type III AC Joint injuries typcially managed?
surgery or conservatively
- sling immobilization followed by progression to PROM
- full PROM 2-3 weeks after immobilization
- progressive shoulder strengthening
- RTS 6-12 weeks
- reconstruction if limitations persists >/= 3 months
how are types IV, V and VI AC joint injuries managed?
surgically
- post-op management includes:
- progressing toward full ROM, f/b strengthening progression
- manual therapy interventions as appropriate
- scap stab/proprioceptive training progression
what is scapular dyskinesia?
characterized by poor coordination of shoulder musculature which can result in stress/strain on other structures
motion abnormalities, mechanical neck and shoulder pain along with diminished soft tissue extensibility observed
what types of motion abnormalities will be observed with scapular dyskinesia?
diminished posterior tilting, upward rotation, and clavicle retraction
excessive clavicle elevation
what can cause mechanical neck and shoulder pain in scapular dyskinesia?
- hyperactive upper trap
- impaired motor performance
- lower and mid traps
- SA
where would you expect to see diminished soft tissue extensibility in scapular dyskinesia?
- pec minor
- posterior shoulder/capsule
- levator scap
- latissimus dorsi
- GH external rotators
what can cause a biceps tendon lesion?
- instability
- associated with a pulley lesion
- sub scap tears
- SLAP lesions
- tendinopathy
- initial inflammatory response f/b degenerative process.
- pain w/tensile loading
- ruptures
- commonly occur at origin or upon exit of biciptial groove
- Popeye deformity
what types of things can cause a rotator cuff lesion?
- tendinopathy due to subacromial impingement
- tendinosis due to microtrauma
- partial/full tears
what is a subacromial impingement?
excessive superior translation of humeral head w/elevation
risks:
- > 40 yrs old
- calcific tendonitis
- females > males
- possible hypoxic mechanism
what types of abnormalites can lead to subacromial impingement and thus a tendinopathy?
- tissue abnormalities
- anatomic abnormalities of acromion
- bursitis
- calcific bone spur
- tendon thickening
- Other
- altered scapulothoracic/scapulohumeral kinematics
- postural abnormalities
- superior translation of humeral head during elevation
- decreased GH stability
- “tight” posterior capsule