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Referred pain
208
Clinical examination of the shoulder C H A P T E R 1 2
in following the healing process: as the patient improves, the question is one of the criteria for judging the stage of
inflammation decreases and the pain spreads less far. arthritis.
• Can you lie on the affected side at night? Pain when lying
on the shoulder indicates more severe inflammation than
History just pain on exercise. Bursitis, tendinosis or arthritis may
make it impossible for the patient to lie on the affected
The first question to be elucidated by the history is whether side at night. Consequently, this question is not of much
the pain in the arm is genuinely from a shoulder lesion or help in defining the exact nature of the structure at fault.
whether it is the consequence of a more proximal lesion, arising However, it is rather important in following the resolution
perhaps from the cervical spine. If the answer to this is not of the disorder: as the condition improves, the pain at
clear from the history, a preliminary examination, including night diminishes and finally disappears.
tests of the cervical spine, shoulder and elbow, is necessary.
• Did the pain come on spontaneously or was there any
In arthritis of the shoulder, the history will be important to
particular reason for it, such as overactivity or an injury?
establish the stage (see Ch. 13). In other disorders it is of less
It is clear that overactivity may provoke tendinosis. In a
significance.
ruptured tendon, however, one should not necessarily
The answers to a number of questions (summarized in Box
expect recent overuse. Overactivity can also cause arthritis
12.1) will be needed.
in a joint that is already osteoarthrotic; this is just as true
• What is your age? Age can be relevant in several disorders. for the acromioclavicular joint as it is for the glenohumeral
It can be helpful in defining the exact type of arthritis. joint. In haemophilia, haemarthrosis usually comes on
Traumatic arthritis will only be met after 40 years of age, spontaneously; it is more common at the knee but may
arthritis from immobilization after the age of 60. occur at the shoulder as well.
Subdeltoid bursitis might be present between 15 and • For how long have you had the pain? If the pain has
65 years of age. Tendinosis can occur at any adult age. already been present for some months, an acute
• What is the pain and does it radiate? Pain starting in the subdeltoid bursitis can be excluded because the full
deltoid area and spreading towards the wrist, along the course of this condition is 6 weeks. In addition, onset is
radial aspect of the arm, is caused by a lesion that abrupt over a few days, sometimes only hours, as in an
originates in C5. Such pain may be felt in the whole attack of gouty arthritis. Arm pain because of root
dermatome or only in part of it. The majority of the compression by a cervical disc protrusion wears off in
shoulder structures belong to the C5 segment. The about 4 months. Long-standing pain can be the outcome
acromioclavicular joint, a C4 structure, is the main of a chronic subdeltoid bursitis or a simple tendinosis.
exception. A patient who indicates the tip of the shoulder Both can last for years. Monoarticular steroid-sensitive
only as the site of pain suggests strongly that there is a arthritis can take up to 2 years to disappear spontaneously.
lesion of the acromioclavicular joint. Whether the pain is • Are any other joints affected? A more generalized
caused by arthritis, bursitis or simple tendinosis will make inflammatory disorder is expected if other joints have
no difference to where or how far distally the pain is felt. been previously involved or are attacked at the same time.
The distal spread of referred pain depends only on the Indeed, the shoulder joint can be the seat of rheumatoid
degree of inflammation. It is routine to ask if the pain arthritis, lupus erythematosus and ankylosing spondylitis.
remains above the elbow or radiates below it – a matter of
• How is your general condition? Have you had any
particular importance in arthritis.
operations? Recent unexplained loss of weight can be the
• Is there any pain in the arm at rest? This gives information first sign of a carcinoma. A primary tumour at the
about the severity of the lesion: if spontaneous pain is shoulder or metastases can be a local source of shoulder
present, there is a greater degree of inflammation than if pain. A Pancoast’s tumour of the lung often provokes pain
pain is felt only on movement. Again, the answer to this in the shoulder area.
Inspection
Box 12.1
The inspection starts with checking what position the head is
Summary of history taking held in and whether both shoulders are level. It is important
• Age? to check for redness, swelling, muscular wasting or any deform-
• Where is the pain? Does it radiate? ity such as scapular winging. A step deformity at the upper
• Pain at rest or only on use? lateral aspect of the shoulder is caused by an acromioclavicular
• Can you lie on that side at night? dislocation, with the distal end of the clavicle lying superior to
• How did the pain come on: spontaneously/overuse/injury? the acromion. Atrophy of the upper trapezius may indicate
• For how long have you had the pain? spinal accessory nerve palsy.13 Atrophy of supraspinatus and/or
• Are other joints affected? infraspinatus is caused by either a supraspinous nerve palsy or
• General condition? Any operations? long-standing rotator cuff lesions.14 Effusion of more than
10–15 mL arising from the glenohumeral joint is normally
209
The Shoulder
210
Clinical examination of the shoulder C H A P T E R 1 2
on both passive and resisted movement(s), pain on resisted at least a differential diagnosis should be in mind. To arrive at
movements does not exclude a disorder in an inert structure, the final diagnosis, one or more accessory tests may be useful.
nor pain on passive movements a disorder in a contractile
structure. These results may sometimes lead to diagnostic dif- Elevation of the arm
ficulties (see Ch. 4).
Accessory tests may be called for. They will only be per- Active elevation
formed if, after the basic functional examination, the diagnosis The patient is asked to raise both arms sideways above the
still remains unclear. After the basic examination is complete, head, as far as possible (Fig. 12.3a). The range of movement
and the influences, if any, on pain are noted.
Box 12.3 This very unselective and broad test investigates both inert
and contractile structures, not only of one single joint, but also
Summary of the basic functional examination of of all five ‘joints’ of the shoulder girdle (see online chapter
Clinical examination of the shoulder girdle). Therefore, the
the shoulder
result should always be interpreted in light of the other tests.
Elevation
As it gives a good idea of the patient’s willingness to cooperate,
1. Active elevation of both arms it will also help in identifying a person who has no genuine
2. Passive elevation lesion but is feigning illness.
3. Painful arc
Glenohumeral joint Passive elevation
The examiner takes the patient’s arm just proximal to the
4. Passive scapulohumeral abduction
elbow, brings it upwards from the side and pushes it as far as
5. Passive lateral rotation
it will go towards the head. At the same time counterpressure
6. Passive medial rotation
is applied over the contralateral shoulder, preventing the
Resisted movements patient from side-flexing to the other side (Fig. 12.3b). Pain,
7. Adduction range of motion and end-feel are noted. Because this move-
8. Abduction ment comes to a halt when the axillary portion of the capsule
9. Lateral rotation is stretched, the normal end-feel is elastic.
10. Medial rotation
11. Flexion of the elbow Painful arc
12. Extension of the elbow The patient raises the arm, actively, in a frontal plane and
concentrates on pain likely to occur at mid-range, being asked
Fig 12.3 • Elevation of the arm: (a) active elevation; (b) passive elevation; (c) painful arc.
211
The Shoulder
212
Clinical examination of the shoulder C H A P T E R 1 2
(a) (b)
Fig 12.5 • Three tests for the glenohumeral joint: (a) passive
scapulohumeral abduction; (b) passive lateral rotation; (c) passive
(c) medial rotation.
if the examiner puts the little finger underneath the patient’s applied to the distal part of the forearm just above the wrist.
wrist: extension at the elbow causes the digit to move down. The other hand is placed on the patient’s ipsilateral shoulder
(Fig. 12.8a).
Resisted medial rotation
This is tested in the same position as resisted lateral rotation, Resisted elbow extension
but the patient’s arm is held at the inner part of the wrist and In the same position as for flexion, the patient attempts to
the forearm is pulled towards the body (Fig. 12.7b). extend the elbow. To be able to hold the patient’s elbow at 90°
of flexion, the examiner puts his or her own elbow on the iliac
Resisted elbow flexion crest, the arm in an almost vertical position underneath the
With the elbow still bent at a right angle and the forearm patient’s wrist. The other hand rests on the patient’s ipsilateral
supinated, the forearm is pulled up. Counterpressure is shoulder (Fig. 12.8b).
213
The Shoulder
(a) (b)
(a) (b)
214
Clinical examination of the shoulder C H A P T E R 1 2
(a) (b)
Fig 12.8 • Resisted flexion (a) and extension (b) of the elbow.
Accessory tests •
•
Pressure against a wall
Scapular adduction against resistance
Sometimes the diagnosis is still not clear after the basic exami-
nation and a differential diagnosis has to be undertaken. At
other times, the exact structure at fault has been identified by
this stage of the examination but the precise localization of the Passive horizontal adduction
lesion within that particular structure remains uncertain. In The patient’s arm is brought horizontally in front of the body.
both cases, one or more accessory tests may be required (Box At the end of the movement the elbow is pressed gently
12.4). Passive horizontal adduction is the only one which is further towards the contralateral shoulder (Fig. 12.9). Twisting
explained here. The other tests are discussed, together with of the patient’s trunk is prevented by the examiner bringing
the corresponding disorders, in the following chapters. the other hand behind this shoulder.
215
The Shoulder
Ultrasound scanning
Ultrasound scanning is mainly advocated for the detection of
full or partial rotator cuff lesions. In experienced hands it can
reveal not only the integrity of the rotator cuff but also the
thickness of its various component tendons. Through careful
positioning and through knowledge of the dynamic anatomy of
the cuff, the experienced ultrasonographer can image selec-
tively the upper and lower subscapularis, the biceps tendon,
the anterior and the posterior supraspinatus, the infraspinatus
and the teres minor. Ultrasonography has further advantages:
it is non-invasive and safe, bilateral examinations are quickly
performed, the shoulder can be examined dynamically and,
above all, the procedure is inexpensive.29
One important disadvantage, however, is that the method
has a long learning curve. The results are examiner-dependent
Fig 12.9 • Passive horizontal adduction.
and a good outcome can only be expected in experienced
The indications for this test are: hands.30 Specificity and sensitivity of as high as 98% and 91%
respectively in comparison with surgical findings were claimed
• Sprain of the acromioclavicular joint21 by Mack et al.31 Others have found an overall sensitivity of
• Subcoracoid bursitis 97% in diagnosing full cuff tears and of 91% in partial thickness
• Subscapularis tendinosis. tears.32
216
Clinical examination of the shoulder C H A P T E R 1 2
Computed tomography
Computed tomography (CT) is equally as accurate as MRI for
evaluation of the glenoid rim and labrum, the humeral head and
217
Clinical examination of the shoulder CHAPTER 12
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