Shoulder + Elbow Problems Flashcards
Shoulder epidemiology i.e. what conditions are most common in what ages
- TEENS/20s = FRACTURES & INSTABILITY/DISLOCATIONS
- 30s & 40s = ROTATOR CUFF & CAPSULITIS
- 50s & 60s = IMPINGEMENT & AC JOINT
- 70s+ = DEGENERATIVE ROTATOR CUFF & JOINT
Upper limb #
- SIMILAR EPIDEMIOLOGY to HIP FRACTURES
- YOUNG = HIGH ENERGY INJURIES
- ELDERLY = OSTEOPOROTIC INJURIES
MANAGEMENT: DEPENDS on FRACTURE CONFIGURATION & PT. BIOLOGY
○ DISPLACED PROXIMAL HUMERAL FRACTURES INVOLVING SURGICAL NECK = NO SIG. DIFFERENCE bwtn SURGICAL & NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT in pt.-reported clinical outcomes
Traumatic shoulder dislocation: presentation + management
- SHOULDER JOINT = MOST MOBILE JOINT in body
- STABILITY SACRIFICED for MOBILITY
90% - anterior; 9% - posterior, 1% - inferior
PRESENTATION:
* SPORTING Hx usually * IF FRACTURE/DISLOCATE when YOUNG = MORE LIKELY to have RECURRENT DISLOCATION as SOFT LABRUM DAMAGED (labrum is soft when young & can become damaged; labrum should be tightly adhered to glenoid)
MANAGEMENT:
* MANIPULATION * IMMOBILISATION * PHYSIOTHERAPY * SURGERY - individual discussion, depending on pt. & injury characteristics; can also be used to reattach labrum to glenoid • DISCUSSION = esp. for young pt. about engaging in high risk activities e.g. rugby
Rotator cuff tear: aetiology
- TRAUMATIC = INJURY
* DEGENERATIVE = AGEING (INSIDIOUS presentation)
Rotator cuff tear: presentation
• SHOULDER WEAKNESS + PAIN
○ NIGHT PAIN - may affect sleep as pt. unable to keep arm in comfortable position
○ PSEUDOPARALYSIS = not actually paralysed - passively have full ROM, actively don’t - as w/o supraspinatus tendon, the humerus migrates upwards & the deltoid cannot work effectively due to this
• FALLEN OVER + SHOULDER PAIN + NORMAL X-RAY = could be ROTATOR CUFF INJURY
TYPICAL AGE: > 40yrs
Rotator cuff tear: pathophysiology
• TEARS in SUPRASPINATUS TENDON/SUBSCAPULARIS & INFRASPINATUS
Rotator cuff tear: investigations
• X-RAY
• USS
MRI - can also give info about + QUANTIFY MUSCLE WASTING (can be useful prognostic indicator)
Rotator cuff tear: management
- ACUTE ROTATOR CUFF TEARS = EARLY SURGERY (if they had a normal shoulder beforehand)
- CHRONIC DEGENERATIVE TEARS = SURGERY if SYMPTOMATIC○ Depends on SIZE, TIME, AGE
- INCOMPLETE = SURGERY if SYMPTOMS PERSIST
- COMPLETE = PROMPT REFERRAL for OPEN/ARTHROSCOPIC REPAIR
Frozen shoulder (capsulitis): aetiology
- PRIMARY = IDIOPATHIC
- SECONDARY
Frozen shoulder (capsulitis): presentation
- SEVERE PAIN = may present to A&E, occurs at NIGHT + WORSE at NIGHT (may wonder if joint is infection, calcific tendonitis as they also present to A&E w/ painful shoulder)
- Will EVENTUALLY RESOLVE - may take years
- PAINFUL PHASE = up to 1yr, ACTIVE & PASSIVE MOVEMENT RANGE REDUCED e.g. ABDUCTION < 90° ± EXTERNAL ROTATION < 30°
- FROZEN PHASE = 6 - 12 months, PAIN usually SETTLES, SHOULDER REMAINS STIFF
- THAWING PHASE = 1 - 3yrs, shoulder SLOWLY REGAINS RANGE of MOVEMENT
Frozen shoulder (capsulitis): pathophysiology
• JOINT CAPSULE bwtn BALL & SOCKET = INFLAMED, TIGHT, THICK, CONSTRICTED = GLOBAL RESTRICTION of MOVEMENT
Frozen shoulder (capsulitis): risk factors
- 40S, 50S
- IDDM, THYROID DISEASE
- CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS (MORE GLOBAL RESTRICTION of MOVEMENT)
Frozen shoulder (capsulitis): investigations/diagnosis
• CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS + NORMAL RADIOGRAPH (NORMAL X-RAY)
○ X-RAY = as only other DDx is ACUTE INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS/DISLOCATION of SHOULDER ○ TEST = STAND UP w/ LEGS APART = ARMS should ABDUCT & IF it DOESN'T ABDUCT to ~ 50% of NORMAL ARM then it's frozen shoulder • ARTHROGRAM = will show GREATLY REDUCED SPACE
Frozen shoulder (capsulitis): management
• EARLY PRESENTATION = HYDRODILATION (CONTRAST MEDIUM + ANAESTHETIC + CORTISONE - trying to reduce inflammation, which can reduce pain + increase space inside capsule)
○ ARTHROSCOPIC ARTHROLYSIS = PHYSICALLY INCREASE SPACE = CONTRAST MEDIUM + LOTS of SALINE (keep pushing in saline, looking for SUDDEN GIVE = CAPSULAR RUPTURE; may INJECT STEROID) * LATER = SURGERY * EARLY PHYSIOTHERAPY + NSAIDs may help if tolerated, as may CORTICOSTEROID JOINT INJECTIONS early on to reduce pain
Subacromial impingement: aetiology
SUPRASPINATUS TENDINOPATHY/PARTIAL RUPTURE of SUPRASPINATUS TENDON = PAIN REPRODUCED by ADDUCTING PRESSURE on PARTIALLY ABDUCTED ARM:
TYPICAL AGE: 35 - 60yrs
MANAGEMENT:
• PHYSIOTHERAPY (ACTIVE SHOULDER MOVEMENT) + PAIN RELIEF • SUBACROMIAL BURSA INJECTION of CORTICOSTEROID W/ LOCAL ANAESTHETIC might help ≥ 6 MONTHS REFRACTORY SYMPTOMS = REFER for consideration of ARTHROSCOPIC SUBACROMIAL DECOMPRESSION
CALCIFYING TENDINOPATHY = one of the ACUTE CALCIFIC TENDINOPATHIES; ACUTE INFLAMMATION of SUPRASPINATUS; PAIN MAXIMAL DURING PHASE of RESORPTION:
TYPICAL AGE: ~ 40yrs
MANAGEMENT:
* PHYSIOTHERAPY * NSAIDs * STEROID INJECTION * RARELY - CALCIUM EXCISION
ACROMIOCLAVIULAR JOINT OSTEOARTHRITIS:
COMMON among YOUNG WEIGHTLIFTERS
MANAGEMENT:
* REST * NSAIDs * STEROID INJECTIONS * EXCISION of AC JOINT = only if RESISTANT to NON-OPERATIVE measures