Causes of Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can result from injuries (Rotator cuff tears, dislocations), inflammation (bursitis, tendinitis), arthritis, or nerve compression. Overuse, poor posture, and conditions like frozen shoulder or referred pain from the neck can also contribute to shoulder pain.
Common Causes
- Frozen shoulder
- Rotator cuff tears: Includes supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis, and deltoid muscles.
- Acromioclavicular (AC) joint arthritis
- Subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis
- Biceps tenosynovitis
Shoulder Ultrasound:
High-resolution ultrasound plays a key role in diagnosing shoulder conditions. Unlike static imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, or X-ray, ultrasound allows for dynamic real-time evaluation, detecting specific issues that occur during certain movements and positions.
Conditions Diagnosed Via Ultrasound:
- Frozen shoulder
- Rotator cuff tears (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis, deltoid)
- AC joint arthritis
- Subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis
- Biceps tenosynovitis
Other imaging methods include:
- Radiograph ( X-rays ) - It helps us in identifying the bony pathologies like bones alignment issues, fractures or tumors etc.
- CT - Provides us the detailed images of bones and joints, enabling precise diagnosis and treatment planning. They help detect fractures, bone tumors, and joint disorders, enhancing patient care and outcomes.
- MRI - Provides us the detailed images of soft tissues, muscles, and joints helping detection of conditions like ligament tears, cartilage damage, and joint abnormalities
- 3D CT - Helps us in identifying the exact fracture lines , fragments orientation and planning of exact surgeries
- Diagnostic Arthroscopy –This minimally invasive procedure helps allowing direct visualization of joints and helps in detecting joint abnormalities, injuries, and conditions for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning
Minimally Invasive Treatments
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
- Growth factor concentrates (GFC) therapy
- Fluid aspiration
- Hydrodilation
- Steroid injections
- Radiofrequency ablation
Surgical Option
- Arthroscopy, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for fractures, and elbow replacement (arthroplasty)
- Diagnostic arthroscopy and repairs
- SLAP tear repair
- Rotator cuff repair
- Surgical repair
