Introduction
As detailed in this report, ex-baseball player Jason Doe suffered severe right shoulder pain while throwing with his son. The report will examine the sports medicine physician’s assessment of the injury, diagnosis, and proposed course of therapy. The relevance of the rotator cuff muscles and ligaments to this instance will also be discussed.
Injury and Diagnosis
Jason Doe complained of excruciating, sudden pain in his right shoulder spreading down his arm. Jason Doe’s right abduction and external rotation were found to have reduced ranges of motion. X-rays of the scapulohumeral and acromioclavicular joints showed no signs of damage to the bone tissue or joint spaces. The right upper shoulder area hurt like hell if someone touched it. The rotator cuff and glenohumeral joint were damaged, as determined by orthopaedic examination. A moderate rotator cuff strain and mild shoulder sprain were the official diagnoses. Physical therapy was suggested to start, with the option of an MRI scan if symptoms continued beyond 2–3 weeks.
Rotator Cuff Muscles and Injuries
Question 5:
All four of these muscles work together to form what is known as the rotator cuff: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. Above the spine of the scapula is where you will find the supraspinatus muscle (Miniato et al., 2019). The teres minor muscle lies next to the infraspinatus muscle below the scapular spine. On the front of the shoulder blade lies a muscle known as the subscapularis.
Question 6:
The supraspinatus is the rotator cuff muscle most likely to be torn. During the initial 15 degrees of arm abduction, this muscle is most active (Dietrich et al., 2022), indicating its importance in the movement. Pain and restricted shoulder motion are consistent with overuse injuries to the supraspinatus muscle brought on by the quick, forceful action required to catch the wild ball.
Actions of Rotator Cuff Muscles
Question 7:
The four rotator cuff muscles all do their part to keep the shoulder stable and mobile uniquely. The supraspinatus muscle is responsible for the initial phase of abduction and aids in keeping the humeral head in the glenoid cavity (Altiparmak et al., 2022). The teres minor and infraspinatus muscles are responsible for externally rotating the arm and stabilizing the humeral head, respectively, during this motion. However, the subscapularis muscle aids humeral head motion by internally rotating the arm. On the other hand, the subscapularis muscle is responsible for the internal rotation of the arm and helps stabilize the humeral head.
Ligaments Between Humerus and Scapula
Question 8:
The glenohumeral ligaments are a group of tissues that attach the humerus to the scapula. According to research by Crossan and Rowson (2023), these ligaments do a great job stabilizing the shoulder joint by reinforcing the joint capsule. The glenohumeral ligaments are categorized as either superior, medium, or inferior. Three glenohumeral ligaments maintain the shoulder joint capsule: the superior glenohumeral ligament, the middle glenohumeral ligament, and the inferior glenohumeral ligament. These ligaments work together to keep the shoulder joint stable during motion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jason Doe’s example emphasizes the significance of knowing the structure and function of the rotator cuff muscles and ligaments in determining the cause of shoulder injuries and developing an appropriate treatment plan. The fact that he tore his supraspinatus muscle while making a sudden movement demonstrates the fragility of these muscles. The treatment strategy of physical therapy followed by an optional MRI examination aligns with the most recent recommendations for handling shoulder sprains and rotator cuff tears.
References
Altiparmak, B., Ciftci, B., Tekin, B., Sakul, B. U., & Alici, H. A. (2022). Is the deep supraspinatus muscle plane block and suprascapular nerve block the same approach? A cadaveric nomenclature study. Korean Journal of Anesthesiology, 75(2), 193-195.
Crossan, K., & Rawson, D. (2023). Shoulder arthrogram. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
Dietrich, L. G., Bayard, I., & Vögelin, E. Entrapment of the Suprascapular Nerve Due a Complex Scapular Fracture: A Case Report. J Surgery. 2022; 2 (1), 1032.
Miniato, M. A., Anand, P., & Varacallo, M. (2019). Anatomy, shoulder and upper limb, shoulder.
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