Injuries to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint are common occurrences in the athletic patient population, with approximately 9% of all shoulder injuries involving the AC joint. Injuries to the sternoclavicular (SC) joint are less common, accounting for up to 3% of…
Vascular problems involving the shoulder are relatively uncommon, but they can result in pain, a profound deleterious effect on an athlete's performance, and, in rare cases, a potentially limb-threatening situation. Acute sports-related vascular injuries are most common in contact sports…
Nerve Entrapment in the Shoulder The incidence of entrapment neuropathies involving the shoulder is largely unknown, but as our understanding of the anatomy and pathology of these conditions grows, earlier and more accurate recognition of these conditions has led to…
The scapula connects the upper extremity to the thorax and allows for complex movements about the shoulder. Although there are minimal bony connections to the axial skeleton, the scapula plays an integral role in the function of the upper extremity…
Arthritis or degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the shoulder in young athletes is a disabling condition that often limits sports participation and is extremely challenging to treat. Shoulder arthritis, defined as a degeneration of the articular cartilage of either the…
The structural anatomy of the glenohumeral articulation affords considerable range of motion (ROM) to the shoulder. The osseous and soft tissue structures provide limited yet sufficient static and dynamic restraints to allow significant motion not only for activities of daily…
Muscle injuries about the shoulder are increasingly common in active individuals, with the prevalence of upper extremity muscle sprains, strains, and ruptures rising as more athletes join gyms and engage in recreational and professional strength training and weight lifting. However,…
Primary rotator cuff repair frequently leads to successful subjective results with decreased pain and increased function, but incomplete healing or retearing is known to commonly occur. Retear rates following repair of small to medium tears have been reported as high…
The subscapularis represents the anterior portion of the rotator cuff and is an important stabilizer and internal rotator for the glenohumeral joint. The first reported case documenting a subscapularis tendon tear was by Smith in 1834, with the first reported…
Historical Perspective A description of rotator cuff pathology is found in the earliest surgical text, the Edwin Smith Papyrus (c.1500 bce ). Subsequently, throughout ancient and modern history, multiple authors have written about the rotator cuff, its disease, and its…