Shoulder disorders & injuries Flashcards
Scapular Fx etiology
- Result of HIGH ENERGY trauma
- Fall, MVA, pedestrian accident, shoulder dislocation
Clinical presentation of a scapular fracture
- Patient holding arm close to their side
- Pain with movement of the upper arm
PE for a scapular fracture
- Ecchymosis
- Swelling/deformity
- Tender to palpation
- Possible crepitus
- Limited ROM
- Check other systems
Scapular Fx diagnostics
- X-ray
- Often these patients are not able to sit upright
- Obtain a chest & shoulder films
- CT
- Any poorly visualized fracture
- Any fracture involving the joint itself
- (glenoid fractures)
Scapular Fx treatment
- Non-operative
- arm in a sling
- Early ROM as tolerated
- Scapular body fx consider admission due to pulmonary contusions
Scapular Fx referral flags
- Displaced fracture >2 mm
- Glenoid fracture (articulating surface)
- Fractures of the neck of the scapula (>30 degrees angulation)
- Acromion fractures with impingement signs
Clavicular Fx etiology
- Most often occurs in children and young adults
- Can result as indirect or direct trauma to the clavicle
Most common shoulder fx in children and young adults
Clavicular fx
Medial clavicle fx’s usually occur due to _____
anterior chest trauma
Distal clavicular fx’s & AC joint disruption are associated with ______
direct blows to the distal clavicle or acromion
Clavicular Fx presentation
- History of an injury
- Outstretched arm or direct impact
Physical Examination of a clavicular fx
- Decreased ROM of the shoulder with pain
over Fx when palpated - Ecchymosis
- Shoulder droop or the patient will hold it
higher - Deformation, tissue tenting
- Feel gliding of the clavicle
- Crepitus possible
- Examine NEUROVASCULAR FUNCTION
How to examine neurovascular function of a clavicular fx
- Distal to the fracture
- Axillary, musculocutaneous, median, ulnar, and radial nerves
- Sensation of the UE’s
- Muscle strength in the UE’s
- Reflexes: Brachioradialis, Biceps, Triceps
- Look for evidence of decreased perfusion
- Skin color changes, diminished pulses, decreased cap refill
Clavicular Fx Diagnostic Testing
- X-ray
- AP view (10° cephalic tilt) for most clavicle fx’s
- CT scan
- For suspected medial clavicle fx’s
Clavicular Fx treatment (outpatient)
- Most mid-shaft fx’s are nonsurgical
- Simple shoulder sling: Worry for skin breakdown, and neurovascular injury
- After ~3-4 weeks start gentle shoulder exercises.
- NSAIDs for pain
- Ice packs initially and then heat once swelling is down
- PT referral if continued decreased ROM
When to reduce/not reduce a clavicular fracture
- Middle third is almost never required: Manipulation can cause neurovascular injury
- Displaced proximal or distal third fx’s requires orthopaedic referral for
reduction - Open fractures, severe displacement with skin at risk, fx’s with neurovascular
injury may require open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) - Nonunion over 4 months = further evaluation (orthopaedics)
When to send a clavicular fracture to surgery
- Displaced fx of the distal clavicle
- Any proximal clavicular fracture
- Comminuted or severely shortened overall clavicle length: >2cm if over 12 y.o.
- Open fx’s
- Neurovascular involvement
- Skin over fracture is at risk
Clavicular Fx adverse outcomes
- Neurovascular complications (rare)
- Nonunion (common)
- Malunion – visual or palpable bump
- Degenerative arthritis if AC intra-articular involvement
- Surgical repair can have increased chance of:
- Infection
- Hardware issues (loosening or breaking)
- Skin and/or Neurovascular complications.
Humeral Fx etiology
- Usually in children and osteoporotic patients
- High energy trauma in adults
- Fall on outstretched hand that is abducted
- Direct trauma to the proximal humerus
Proximal Humerus Fx’s Clinical Presentation
- History of mechanism of injury that could potentially cause a fx
- fall, osteoporosis, blunt force trauma…
- Severe pain (even with slight movements)
- Swelling
- Find out the dominant hand – may change treatment in pts who use it for
their occupation
Physical Examination for Proximal Humerus Fx’s
- Ecchymosis
- Arm may be rotated
- Neurovascular testing
- Inspect for any lacerations, contusions, or signs of an open fx
Proximal Humerus Fx’s Diagnostic
- Trauma series of the shoulder
- AP, Axillary view, Scapular Y
Proximal Humerus Fx’s treatment
- Minimal displacement = sling with exercise program after 3 weeks and signs of
healing - Early ROM is important to decrease chance of frozen shoulder
- PT with humeral fracture protocols your clinic has developed
When to refer Proximal Humerus Fx’s to surgery
- Surgical treatment if any part is angulated >45° or >1 cm displacement
- Displacement of the greater tuberosity > 0.5cm needs surgical consult
- Any displaced 2-part fractures
- All 3 and 4-part fractures
- Any neurovascular involvement
The four parts of a humeral fracture being
- Greater tuberosity
- Lesser tuberosity
- Humeral head
- Humeral shaft
Proximal Humerus Fx’s Adverse outcomes
- Nonunion
- Malunion
- Persistent stiffness
- Dislocation of shoulder (check each time you see this fracture)
- Get an Axillary view – this will show you alignment of the humeral head
and the glenoid fossa
Humeral Shaft Fx’s etiology
- Result of a direct blow to the arm
- MVA, Fall, Impact sports
Humeral shaft fx treatment
- Usually treated non-surgically
- ~100% union
- Worry about radial nerve entrapment
Humeral Shaft Fx’s clinical presentation
- Severe pain and swelling
- Deformity
- Palpation often results in movement of shaft
- Radial nerve entrapment: (RARE)
- Causing radial nerve palsy
- Unable to extend the wrist or fingers
- Can have loss of posterior hand sensation
- Assess neurologic function
- Ulnar, radial, and median nerves
- Assess radial pulse
Humeral Shaft Fx’s Diagnostics
- AP and Lateral views of the Humerus
- Obtain the shoulder and elbow films too
Humeral Shaft Fx’s treatment
- 20° angulation is acceptable
- Fx’s <2 cm displacement can be splinted for a few weeks and then transitioned to a humeral fracture brace
- Brace for additional 6 weeks or until healed
- Sling the distal arm
- Encourage ROM of the elbow, wrist, and hand
Humeral Shaft Fx’s Surgical indications (ORIF)
- Open fractures
- Neurovascular involvement
- If the radius and ulna are also fx’d
- Displaced comminuted fractures
- > 20º angulation
- > 2cm displacement
- Nonunion > 3 months of tx
- Associated Head injury/seizures
Humeral Shaft Fx’s Adverse Outcomes
- Radial nerve injury (Rare)
- Stiff shoulder and/or elbow
- Splint irritating skin
- Nonunion
Subacromial Impingement Syndrome etiology
- Due to repetitive movements
- Common in athletes with overhead activities
- Overhead work related activities
Subacromial Impingement Syndrome epidemiology
Mostly seen in middle age
Subacromial Impingement Syndrome presentation
- Gradual onset
- Anterolateral aspect of the shoulder
- Overhead movement increases pain
- Pain at night, can’t sleep on affected side
Subacromial Impingement Syndrome PE
- Palpation over distal acromion and greater tuberosity
- Worse pain at 90 -120° of abduction of the shoulder
- Neer Impingement sign
- Hawkins Impingement sign
- Testing supraspinatus strength is also important
- Jobe/empty can test
- Sulcus sign
_______: Have pt lock elbow straight, internally rotate arm. Examiner grabs wrist and flexes the shoulder. Free hand is on scapula to stabilize it. The greater tuberosity can compress against the anterior acromion, what sign is this?
Neer Impingement sign
_______- Reinforces Neer testing. Shoulder is flexed to 90°, Elbow at 90°, now ratchet the arm internally, what sign is this?
Hawkins Impingement sign
Sulcus sign indicates _____
Muscle atrophy of the posterior and superior aspect indicates a cuff tear
Subacromial Impingement Syndrome diagnostic
- AP and Axillary x-rays are usually
normal due to these conditions being
soft tissue - Clues of narrowing space between
humeral head and inferior aspect of
the acromion on AP films
Subacromial Impingement Syndrome treatment
- NSAIDS and rest
- Stretching program
- Posterior capsular stretching
- Home PT program for ~ 6 weeks if showing consistent
improvement - Formal PT if treatment not helping within 3-4 weeks
- Subacromial corticosteroid injection if pt is continuing to have
discomfort, or not improving after 6 weeks of either PT
program
When to refer a Subacromial Impingement Syndrome
- Substantial weakness of the rotator cuff
- Significant weakness with empty can sign. Not just pain
- Failure of 2-3 months of PT
Adverse outcomes of a Subacromial Impingement Syndrome
- NSAID dyspepsia/ ulceration/ hepatic issues
- Tear of rotator cuff or biceps tendon
- Can happen with repeat injections
- Try not to give an injections sooner than 12 weeks apart
Adhesive Capsulitis aka
Frozen Shoulder
Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)
*Idiopathic loss of both active and passive ROM
*Different from post traumatic shoulder stiffness
* 40-60 year-olds at highest risk
* More frequent in women
* Type 1 DM is greatest risk factor
Type 1 DM is greatest risk factor for ______
Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)
Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder) clinical presentation
- Freezing Phase: Pain with movement of the shoulder, ROM starts to decrease
- Frozen stage: Pain diminishes, but ROM continues to decrease
- Thawing Phase: Slow return of ROM
- The three phases can take from 6 to 24 months (or longer in some cases)
- ROM may not completely return
Adhesive Capsulitis PE
- Physical exam shows at least 50%
reduction in Passive & Active
ROM (PROM & AROM) - Pathognomonic for frozen
shoulder: Affected arm is usually at the
pt’s side and lacks external
rotation, Coracohumeral ligaments
is usually contracted - Pain at the insertion of the deltoid
is common - The shoulder is also diffusely
tender to palpation
Adhesive Capsulitis diagnostics
- X-ray: AP and Axillary films to check joint
surfaces are free of obstruction - MRI can substantiate adhesive capsulitis
- See a contracted capsule and loss of
inferior pouch of axillary recess
Adhesive Capsulitis treatment
- NSAIDs
- Non-narcotic analgesics
- Moist heat
- Ice after stretching to minimize inflammation
- Corticosteroid injection avoiding multiple injections
- TENS unit
- Home stretching program or consult PT
- Educate about recovery period could be 6mo - 2yrs (sometimes longer)
- Resolves on own 80-85% of the time
- Surgical tx involves arthroscopic capsular release
- PT