Upper Extremity Disorders Part 1 Flashcards
with shoulder hx CC - consider in the context of its ___ and ____
chronicity
patient’s age
CC with shoulder disorders is typically ___ or ___
pain or instability
shoulder hx - < 30 years old MCC
-
traumatic injuries or joint instability
- Glenohumeral dislocations or AC joint separation
- Rotator cuff tears and impingement syndrome rarely occur
shoulder hx - MCC for 30-50 years old
- rotator cuff tears or impingement syndrome
- Dislocations are much less common and should raise a suspicion of a concomitant rotator cuff tear
shoulder hx - MCC >50 years old
- rotator cuff dysfunction / tear, impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis
- Acute pain in elderly may indicate pathological fracture due to osteoporosis- common at proximal humerus
difference between acute vs chronic sx in shoulder pain
- Acute sx (< 2-3 wks duration)
- Think injury - Fracture, dislocation, rotator cuff tear or biceps tendon rupture - Chronic sx
- May be due to injury, but typically associated with overuse or arthritis
components of instability in shoulder pain hx
-
Direction of instability
- Can be anterior, posterior, inferior, or multidirectional -
Degree of Instability
- Partial (subluxation) with spontaneous reduction vs. complete (dislocation)
MC direction of instability in shoulder history
anterior
during PE for shoulder cc, patient should be in what position with what removed
standing
shirt removed
inspection during shoulder PE
- Assess contours and height of both shoulders
- Inspect both anteriorly and posteriorly
- Noteworthy findings: deformity, swelling, ecchymosis
palpation for shoulder PE
- Start at the sternoclavicular joint and move laterally
- Assess all joints and bony structures
- Assess the subacromial bursa
- Assess long head of the biceps tendon
- Noteworthy findings: point tenderness, deformity, swelling
shoulder PE - All 6 directions of movement should be assessed. These include:
horizational flexion & extension
extension
flexion
adduction
abduction
things to keep in mind for shoulder PE ROM
6 directions
- Active followed by passive ROM
- Note direction of limited ROM
- Assess fluidity and smoothness of movement
- Palpate for crepitus
- Consider functional disability
deltoid muscle testing
- Abduct shoulder at 90° with the elbow flexed at 90° and the forearm parallel to the floor
- Ask patient to resist downward pressure to the elbow
special test for Supraspinatus
“Empty can test”
- Abduct shoulder at 90° with 30° forward flexion and internal rotation with the elbow extended
- In the “thumbs down” position - Push down as the patient resists
- Weakness or pain is indicative of rotator cuff disease
special test for Infraspinatus and Teres Minor
- Flex elbow to 90° with shoulder in neutral position
- Support the elbow and attempt to externally rotate asking patient to resist movement
- hornblower’s sign
special test for Subscapularis
“Gerber Lift-off Test”
- Place the patient’s hand behind the small of the back, palm facing away from back
- Have the patient lift the hand off the back against resistance
muscle testing for Serratus Anterior
- Stabilizes the scapula
- Flex the shoulder above 90°
- Then with one hand, depress the arm (posteriorly), while the other hand palpates the scapula
- The scapula should remain on the chest wall
- Winging indicates muscle weakness
muscle testing for rhomboid
- Have the patient place both hands on their sides, along the side of the iliac crest. Then push the arm forward as the patient resists your passive movement
- The scapula should remain on chest wall
- Winging indicates muscle weakness
what is Neer impingement
- With patient seated, depress the scapula with one hand and elevate the arm with the other
- This compresses the rotator cuff tendons between the greater tuberosity and the anterior acromion
- Discomfort represents rotator cuff tear or impingement syndrome
what is the Hawkins-Kennedy Test
- Forward flex the shoulder to 90° and the elbow flexed to 90°
- Internally rotate the shoulder
- Pain indicates impingement of the supraspinatus tendon
what is the crossover test
- Elevate the shoulder to 90°
- Adduct the arm across the body in the horizontal plane
- Discomfort over the AC joint suggest arthritis or AC joint pathology
what is apprehension sign
- Place the arm in supine position
- Place the arm in 90° abduction with elbow flexed at 90°
- Apply maximal external rotation
- Patients with anterior instability report a sense of impending dislocation
- Discomfort without apprehension is nonspecific
what is the sulcus sign
- Apply traction in an inferior direction with the arm relaxed at the patient’s side
- Inferior instability: inferior subluxation of the humeral head and a widening of the sulcus between the humerus and the acromion
what is the Jerk Test
- Place the arm in 90° flexion and maximum internal rotation with the elbow flexed at 90°
- Adduct the arm across the body in the horizontal plane while pushing the humerus in the posterior position
- If there is posterior instability, this will cause posterior subluxation or dislocation
dx imaging for shoulder injury
Radiographs - 1st line
- AP view - Can add on AP internal and external rotation views
- Scapular “Y” view - Helpful for shoulder dislocation, proximal humerus fracture and scapular fracture
- Axillary view
- Can be obtained with internal and external rotation
- Internal (lesser tubercle of humerus); External (greater tubercle)
which xray view
AP view
which xray view provides better view of scapula
Lateral or scapular Y-view
which xray view provides a view of the relationship of the humeral head and the glenoid
Axillary view
Group of muscles and their tendons that act to ____ the shoulder, holding the humerus into the fossa of the glenoid
stabilize
Rotator Cuff Consists of 4 Muscles:
- Supraspinatus - MC affected
- Infraspinatus
- Teres Minor
- Subscapularis
pathophys of rotator cuff disorders
- overuse
- edema
- inflammation
- fibrosis
- microscopic tear
- partial thickness tear
- full thickness tear
An inflammation of the subacromial bursa and rotator cuff tendons
Results from repetitive compression of these structures under the coracoacromial arch
Impingement
presentation of impingement disorder
- Gradual onset of shoulder pain
- Anteriorly and laterally
- Pain worse with overhead activity
- Can also worsen when reaching behind the back - Night pain and difficulty sleeping on affected side
- Prolonged cases: weakness and SITS muscle atrophy
PE for impingement
- Inspection
- Usually normal
- Atrophy if prolonged condition - Palpation
- Tenderness over the greater tuberosity and subacromial bursa - ROM
- Pain with abduction (90-120°) and when lowering arm back down
- Crepitus with movement - Special testing
- (+) Neer and Hawkins-Kennedy
diagnostics for impingement disorder
- X-rays typically normal
- Y-view x-ray could demonstrate subacromial spur - MRI - better, however $$$
- Diagnostic anesthetic injection
- Assess muscle strength with Empty Can test
- Inject 10 ml of 1% lidocaine into the subacromial space
- Repeat Empty Can
- If strength assessment improves impingement is more likely than tear
impingement disorder management
- Mainstay: Rest & NSAIDs
-
Home exercise program
- 6-8 wks (exercises 3-4x daily)
- Should not have an increase in pain - Muscle soreness and stretching sensation are normal
- Ice application after exercises - Corticosteroid injection if no improvement after 4-6 wks
- Referral indications
- PT - no improvement after 3-4 wks of home exercise
- Ortho - no improvement after 2-3 months of PT
— Possible consideration of surgical subacromial decompression
Repetitive overhead motions increase the demand on the shoulder and the musculotendinous junctions
Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
RF Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
- MC - Repetitive overhead activity
- Pitching - Increased BMI
- DM
- Hyperlipidemia
Rotator Cuff Tendonitis - Excessive abduction and external rotation results in compression of what muscles
supraspinatus and infraspinatus
early sx of rotator cuff tendonitis
Stage I tendonitis
- Aching and soreness with repetitive activity (throwing)
- Anterior shoulder - Athletes
- Decreased pitching speed and accuracy - Pain with ADL’s
- Improves with rest
late sx of rotator cuff tendonitis
Stage II tendonitis
- Posterior shoulder pain with activity and at night
- Loss of ROM - abduction and external rotation
- Rest is no longer effective
PE of rotator cuff tendonitis
- Inspection
- Most patients are normal
- Atrophy of supraspinatus/infraspinatus (long-standing dz) - Palpation
- Tenderness along affected muscles, subacromial space - ROM
- Pain above 90° abduction
- Passive ROM > active ROM - Special Testing
- (+) Empty-can
- (+) Neer and Hawkins if associated impingement
imaging for rotator cuff tendonitis
- Shoulder X-ray - Internal and external AP views
- MSK Ultrasound
- MRI shoulder
pros and cons of rotator cuff tendonitis US? findings?
- Requires trained technician; operator dependent
- Inexpensive, convenient, and no radiation exposure
- Will show thickening (>5 to 6 mm), hypoechogenicity, and heterogeneity
indications for MRI shoulder in rotator cuff tendonitis? findings?
- Indications
- Unclear presentation (clinical diagnosis is questionable)
- Inadequate response to conservative therapy - Will show inflammation and edema
management for rotator cuff tendonitis
-
Stage I
- Rest - no overhead weight training or throwing x 10 days
- After 10 days of rest - intermittent throwing
- Physical therapy -
Stage II
- Rest and refer to PT - Complete shoulder rest until after PT has been completed -
Referral indications
- Failure of conservative therapy
Tear in one or more of the 4 rotator cuff muscles (SITS)
Rotator Cuff Tear
Which tendon is most common injured for rotator cuff tear
supraspinatus
Pathophysiology/Etiology of rotator cuff tear
often multifactorial
- Age-related degeneration
- Chronic mechanical impingement
- Altered blood supply to tendons