Shoulder Pathology Flashcards
What joint attaches the upper humerus to the shoulder girdle?
What type of joint is this?
Glenohumeral Joint - ball and socket
List 3 features of the GH joint which provide stability?
Bony Congruence
Ligaments
Rotator Cuff and other muscles
Static restraint of the shoulder joint is provided by what 4 things?
- Articular Anatomy
- Labrum
- Negative intra-articular pressure
- Glenohumeral ligaments
Dynamic restraint of the shoulder joint is provided by what 2 things?
- Joint Compression
- Steering effect of cuff muscles
List the ligaments of the GH joint
- Glenohumeral (superior, middle, inferior)
- Coracohumeral
- Coracoclavicular
- Coracoacromial
- Transverse Humeral

What is the purpose of the glenoid labrum and joint capsule?
Labrum – Increases surface area, stability
Capsule – Support, boundary layer
What is the purpose of the rotator cuff muscles?
List/lable these on the image below

Purpose is to depress and stabilise humeral head against glenoid
Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Subscapularis, Teres Minor

List the following regarding the Supraspinatus:
- origin
- insertion
- action
- innervation

List the following regarding the Infraspinatus:
- origin
- insertion
- action
- innervation

List the following regarding the Subscapularis:
- origin
- insertion
- action
- innervation

List the following regarding the Teres Minor:
- origin
- insertion
- action
- innervation

State the following regarding ‘other muscles’
- 5 muscles which connect scapula to spine?
- 4 muscles which connect upper limb to thoracic wall?
- 6 muscles act on shoulder joint itself

Revise ‘look, feel, move’ for an shoulder examination

List 4 differentials for shoulder pain
- Dislocation
- Fractures
- Acromio-clavicular OA
- Cervical Radiculitis
- Suprascapular nerve entraptment
- Tendinitis
List 3 features which may indicate vascular damage in a shoulder injury
- absent pulses
- prolonged capillary refill time
- pallor
How do we test the Supraspinatus?
Ie. for Supraspinatus tendinopathy
Jobe’s test (empty can test) ➞ arm abducted to 20, in the plane of the scapula, thumb pointing down
Neer test (full can test)

How do we test the Deltoid muscle?
Resisted abduction at 90o

How do we test the Infraspinatus muscle?
Resisted External Rotation

How do we test the Subscapularis muscle? (2)
- Gerber’s Lift of test
- Resisted Internal Rotation

How do we test the Long Head of Biceps?
Rupture of the LHB tendon will show what deformity?
Resisted elbow flexion – ‘popeye’ sign

What is Hawkin’s test and how is it performed?
Test to identify subacromial impingement syndrome
Flexion to 90o + internal rotation will cause pain

What is the scarf test used to test
How is it performed?
Test for ACJ pathologies ie. AC joint arthritis
Forced cross body adduction in 90o flexion (+) pain at the extreme of motion

What is the Sulcus Test?
To assess the GH joint for inferior instability
(+) = sulcus sign, when downward force applied to arm by patients side in neutral rotation
Sulcus = hollow under acromion

What is the Apprehension test and how is it performed?
To assess for shoulder instability, specifically in the anterior direction
- Shoulder abducted to 90o, elbow flexed to 90o
- Slow ER of the shoulder
- (+) test → At ~ 90o of ER, patient is anxious/apprehensive that shoulder will dislocate (no a/w pain)







