Traumatic soft tissue injuries of the shoulder girdle

As the major hinge of motion of the upper extremity, the shoulder girdle is prone to soft tissue injuries associated with trauma or overuse. Most soft tissue injuries are tendon injuries, joint sprains or dislocations. The trauma mechanism, position of the arm, the anatomic location of pain and presence of referred pain should be investigated. A detailed history and careful physical examination will lead to the diagnosis of specific disorders in most cases. A wide selection of imaging studies is available for shoulder problems. The imaging of choice should be chosen based on the working diagnosis and cost. This review focuses on the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic soft tissue injuries and pathologies involving the adult shoulder.

Keywords: ACROMIOCLAVICULAR; BICEPS; IMPINGMENT; INSTABILITY; ROTATOR CUFF; SHOULDER; STIFFNESS