Suspected Shoulder Pathology

• Suspected Shoulder Pathology:

  • Instability:
  • common age 10 to 35 year olds
  • physiotherapy if its atraumatic
  • refer to shoulder clinic if:
  • traumatic dislocation
  • ongoing symptoms
  • atraumatic with failed physiotherapy intervention
• Suspected Shoulder Pathology:

  • Acromioclavicular Joint:
  • Common over 30 year olds
  • Rest/NSAIDs/analgesics
  • steroid injection
  • physiotherapy
  • Xray if no improvement
  • refer to shoulder clinic if:
  • refer if transient or no response to injection and physiotherapy
• Suspected Shoulder Pathology:

  • Glenohumeral Joint:
  • frozen shoulder - common in 35 to 65 year olds
  • arthritis - common over 60 year olds
  • xray to differentiate
  • rest/NSAID/analgesics
  • patient information
  • cortisone injection
  • refer to shoulder clinic if:
  • frozen shoulder with normal xray, refer if atypical and/or severe functional limitation
  • refer if arthritis on xray and poor response to analgesics and injection
• Suspected Shoulder Pathology:

  • Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy:
  • common in 35 to 70 year olds
  • rest/NSAIDs/analgesics
  • subacromial injection
  • physiotherapy
  • refer to shoulder clinic if:
  • transient or no response to injection and physiotherapy