c. christopher smith, m.d. 1011-22/4... · biceps tendonitis • inflammation of long head of the...

Evaluation and Treatment of the

Painful Shoulder

in the Primary Care Setting

C. Christopher Smith, M.D. Associate Professor of Medicine

Harvard Medical School Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

A 65-year-old woman with a history of type II

DM presents for evaluation of new left shoulder

pain. The pain is in her anterior and lateral

shoulder and has gradually worsened over the

last three weeks. It is dull and constant and

keeps her up at night. She also notices marked

discomfort when she combs her hair and

cannot get sweaters from the top of her closet

due to pain and weakness. She denies any

trauma or prior injuries. She works as an

investment banker.

The Painful Shoulder

• Recognize, diagnose and treat the most common cause of shoulder pain in the primary care setting

• Know how to differentiate it from other common causes of shoulder pain

The Painful Shoulder

• Anatomy

• History

• Differential based on patient’s age and location of pain

• Physical exam maneuvers

• Initial treatment

Anatomy of the Shoulder

UpToDate, 2006

The Rotator Cuff Muscles

UpToDate, 2006

Causes of Shoulder Pain

• Acromioclavicular Osteoarthritis

• Adhesive Capsulitis

• Biceps Tendonitis

• Brachial Plexus Neuritis

• Cervical Radiculopathy

• Glenohumeral Arthritis

• Instability

• Impingement Syndrome

• Systemic Inflammatory Disorders

• Referred Pain - Diaphragmatic, Subdiaphragmatic and Intrathoracic Causes

In the primary care setting, what is the most common cause of nontraumatic shoulder pain?

A. Bicipital Tendonitis

B. Impingement Syndrome

C. Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)

D. Osteoarthritis of the Glenohumeral Joint

E. Acromioclavicular Joint Osteoarthritis

Causes of Shoulder Pain in the

Primary Care Setting:

Impingement Syndrome > 70%

Adhesive Capsulitis 12%

Bicipital Tendonitis 4%

A/C Joint OA 7%

Other 7%

Smith, J Gen Intern Med, 1992

So what is impingement

syndrome?

Impingement Syndrome

UpToDate, 2006

Typical History of Impingement Syndrome

• Any age, but risk increases with age

• Anterior or lateral shoulder pain

• Pain exacerbated by abduction and forward flexion

• Night pain common

Age and Shoulder Pain

Young (< 30 y.o.) • Dislocations/Instability of Glenohumeral Joint • Separation of AC joint • Overuse injury

Less Young (30-60 y.o.) • Impingement Syndrome • Adhesive Capsulitis (especially in diabetics) • Separation/Overuse as above

Older (> 60 y.o.)

• Impingement Syndrome (non-traumatic tears) • Adhesive Capsulitis • Systemic Conditions (if bilateral, PMR, RA)

Physical Examination

• Inspection

• Palpation

Physical Examination

• Inspection

• Palpation

• Range of Motion

– Passive and Active

• Strength and Sensation

• Specific Maneuvers to Confirm Diagnosis

Painful arc

http://www.clinicalexams.co.uk/painful-arc-syndrome.asp

Maneuvers to Verify Impingement Syndrome


Empty Can Test


Neer’s Test Neer, Clin Orthop 1983


Hawkins’ Test Hawkins, Am J Sports Med 1980

©

A 65-year-old woman with a history of type

II DM presents for evaluation of new left

shoulder pain. The pain is in her anterior

and lateral shoulder and has gradually

worsened over the last three weeks. It is

dull and constant and keeps her up at

night. She also notices marked

discomfort when she combs her hair and

cannot get her sweaters from the top of

her closet due to pain and weakness. She

denies any trauma or prior injuries. She

works as an investment banker.

On inspection, her left humerus was

riding slightly higher than her right.

There was pain with palpation of the

lateral subacromial space. ROM

revealed pain with abduction and

forward flexion; it was worse with active

than passive movement. Positive empty

can, Neer and Hawkins test.

What is the most appropriate initial

treatment for this patient?

A. NSAIDs alone

B. NSAIDs with Physical Therapy

C. Subacromial Steroid Injection with PT

D. NSAIDs plus Steroid Injection

E. Orthopedic consultation

Treatment

• Reduce offending activities

• Physical Therapy

– Aimed at improving mechanical dysfunction and shoulder motion

• NSAIDs or Subacromial injection

– Each is better than placebo

– Little long term difference

– No benefit in combination treatment

White, J Rheumatol 1986

Petri, Arthritis Rheum 1987

You passively abduct the arm to 160

degrees and ask the patient to slowly lower

her arm. At approximately 90 degrees, she

is unable to continue to lower her arm due to

weakness and she drops it to her side.

What is your diagnosis now?




D. Tear of Supraspinatus Tendon

E. Glenohumeral Joint Osteoarthritis

Supraspinatus Tendon Tear

• Positive “Drop-Arm” Test

• Supraspinatus weakness

• External Rotation weakness

• Impingement Signs

• Greater than 60 years old

Murrell, Lancet 2001

Diagnosing Rotator Cuff Tear

# Positive signs* Age Probability of rotator cuff tear

All 3 Any 98%

Any 2 > 60 98%

Any 2 < 60 64%

Any 1 > 70 76%

Any 1 < 40 12%

None Any 5%

* supraspinatus weakness, weakness in external rotation,

positive impingement signs Murrell, Lancet 2001

Internal Rotation Lag Sign

Diagnosis of Rotator Cuff Tear

http://seattleclouds.com/myapplications/Albertosh/Shoulder/Exploramanguito.html

External Rotation Lag Sign

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UsAcorKQUk

Test + LR - LR

Painful Arch (RCD) 3.7 0.36

Drop Arm (RCD) 3.3 0.82

External Resistance (RCD) 2.6 0.49

External Lag (Full Tear) 7.2 0.57

Internal Lag (Full Tear) 5.6 0.04

Hermans. JAMA, 2013 RCD=Rotator Cuff Disease

Clinical Tests for Rotator Cuff Disease and Tears

Internal Rotation Lag Sign

Diagnosis of Rotator Cuff Tear

External Rotation Lag Sign

A 55-year-old male with IDDM, HTN and

GERD presents with three months of

worsening left lateral shoulder pain,

which is worse at night. He reports pain

with most any movement. Range of

motion testing reveals pain and restricted

movement in most directions. Symptoms

are present with both passive and active

movement.

Adhesive Capsulitis or Frozen Shoulder

• Thickening and contraction of the capsule surrounding the glenohumeral joint

• Insidious onset of pain

• Night pain

• Pain in deltoid, but no tenderness to palpation

• Pain and limited active and passive ROM

• Need AP X-ray of glenohumeral joint to rule out glenohumeral arthritis

• Treatment: Physical Therapy

What is the most significant risk factor

for adhesive capsulitis?

A. Diabetes

B. Hypothyroidism

C. Immobility

D. AVN of glenohumeral head

E. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy

46 year old male who moves furniture on the weekends and works as a handyman during the week, presents with right anterior shoulder pain. The pain began after a particularly heavy move, where he moved over a hundred boxes. No fever, chills, night sweats; no weakness or numbness. No prior injuries.

He points to his anterior shoulder with one finger. He has a normal ROM and good strength and positive Yergason and Speed’s tests.

What is your diagnosis?




D. Tear of Supraspinatus Tendon

E. Glenohumeral Joint Osteoarthritis

Anterior View of Shoulder

UpToDate, 2006

Biceps Tendonitis

• Inflammation of long head of the biceps tendon – 95% associated with impingement syndrome

• Repetitive lifting, overhead reaching or forearm supination

• Anterior humeral pain

• Tenderness in bicipital groove – Exacerbated with resisted elbow flexion or forearm

supination

– Yergason and Speed’s Tests

– Impingement signs

• Treatment – Rest, restriction of lifting, reaching and supination

– Anti-inflammatory therapy & Ice

– Physical Therapy Holtby, Arthroscopy 2004

Yergason Test

• Evaluate biceps tendon by palpating bicipital groove while patient flexes elbow to 90 degrees and supinates against resistance

Woodward, Am Fam Phys 2000

Speed’s Test

With elbow extended and

hand supinated, palpate

bicipital groove while

patient attempts to forward

flex shoulder 30

degrees against

resistance

Siegel, Am Fam Phys 1999

Which is the most likely diagnosis?

A 62 year old man was pulling a dead branch from a

tree when he felt a sudden pain in his upper arm and

heard an audible snap. Now, two weeks later, he

has no pain and only minimal loss of strength. His

exam is significant for the finding below.

A. Rotator cuff strain

B. Proximal biceps tendon rupture

C. Distal biceps tendon rupture

D. Biceps tendonitis

Biceps Tendon Tear

• Proximal aspect of long head of biceps tendon

• After especially vigorous lifting

• Often in setting of chronically inflamed tendon

• Weakness of elbow flexion/supination

• “Popeye Sign” - bulge just proximal to antecubital fossa

• Risk Factors:

– Recurrent tendonitis

– Prior tear of rotator cuff or biceps

– Age > 50

– RA

A proximal bicipital tendon tear can usually be treated conservatively, avoiding surgery.

A. True

B. False

Summary

• Impingement syndrome most common cause of shoulder pain in the primary care setting

• Systematic approach to physical exam

• Range of Motion: pain with abduction, forward flexion; active > passive; painful arc

• Empty can, Neer, Hawkins tests to confirm

• Drop arm, internal and external lag signs indicate a complete tear - especially in patients > 60 years old

Summary

• Adhesive Capsulitis

– DM or Immobile shoulder

– Limited ROM in most planes

– Pain with both active passive ROM

• Biceps Tendonitis

– Associated with impingement syndrome

– Reproduced with Yergason and Speed’s tests

– “Popeye” sign for biceps tendon tear

Summary

A careful history and physical examination can correctly diagnose most common causes of shoulder pain.

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/multimediaPlayer.aspx?mediaid=5975016



Questions from the

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c. christopher smith, m.d. 1011-22/4... · biceps tendonitis • inflammation of long head of the...

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