A large proportion of shoulder-related injuries seen here by our shoulder surgeon occurred during sports.
Some of the more common sporting injuries we see at Shirley Oaks Hospital include acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injuries, shoulder joint dislocations and rotator cuff injuries.
Labral tears, biceps tendon tears, bursitis, and fractures are also frequently seen, as are ACJ injuries, shoulder dislocations and labrum injuries. The latter three injuries are more commonly seen in contact sports (football, rugby, and wrestling, for example).
Rotator cuff, biceps and labrum tears are often seen in patients who take part in sports involving heavy weightlifting or throwing. Fractures, meanwhile, are seen when patients take part in sports involving direct impact and falls.
Below is an overview of some of the most common shoulder-related conditions seen by our shoulder surgeons in Croydon.
Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) injuries
The acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) is the hard lump on the top of your shoulder and this joint can be easily injured by athletes who take part in contact sports, cycling or in those who throw objects over their head.
The joint is commonly sprained by repeated falls on the shoulder, or when tackling others (such as during a rugby match).
If the joint becomes fully dislocated, a prominent lump can be seen on top of your shoulder, while sprained joints tend to cause more long-term pain than joints that are dislocated.
For patients experiencing either of these conditions, exercises and physiotherapy may improve the pain. However, shoulder surgery may be required for persistent pain and disability.
Shoulder dislocations/subluxations
The most mobile joint in the body, the shoulder joint is also the easiest to dislocate. In some patients we see here at Circle Health, mild trauma can be enough to cause the shoulder to ‘pop out’ of its joint.
Dislocations can reoccur in more than 50% of young people, says Mr Iossifidis.
“This can lead to further instability and shoulder joint bony and soft tissue injuries. This is the reason why we always recommend early surgical reconstruction.
Rotator cuff tendonitis
A relatively common condition, rotator cuff tendonitis is also known as bursitis, impingement syndrome or supraspinatus tendonitis.
Occurring with repeated overhead use of the arm, it can be seen in older athletes, who may also develop bony spurs (from the ACJ or the acromion). These then press against the rotator cuff tendons above the shoulder joint, with exercises, activity modification and physiotherapy often improving the symptoms.
If rotator cuff tendinitis persists, though, arthroscopic or ‘keyhole shoulder surgery’ — with cleaning of the subacromial bursa and removal of the bony spur — may be required for some patients.
Rotator cuff tears
A group of tendons that provide movement and stability of the shoulder, the rotator cuff can be torn due to an injury.
This can result in pain and weakness, with early keyhole surgical repair stopping the progression of the tear.
Superior labrum tears (SLAP)
The labrum is the meniscus of the shoulder joint, and the biceps tendon is attached to it. Labral tears can occur with falls, direct blows to the shoulder, and due to throwing or pulling injuries.
Superior labral tears, meanwhile, are more often seen in sports which involve overhead throwing, heavy lifting and tackling sports.
During a heavy lift, hard throw, tackle or fall, the biceps tendon anchored to the labrum in the shoulder joint is pulled off its bone attachment, with the resulting tear causing deep pain. The pain is felt inside the shoulder with lifting and sports and these tears may be diagnosed with an MRI scan and confirmed and treated with keyhole surgery.
Biceps tendon tears and dislocations
The biceps tendon tear at the shoulder tends to be associated with a superior rotator cuff tear.
Biceps tendon dislocation, however, is linked to anterior rotator cuff tears, with biceps lesions being diagnosed with MRI scans. The condition can then be treated with keyhole surgery, with early repair and/or tenodesis advisable.
Stiff shoulder
It is relatively common to experience a stiff and/or painful shoulder following an injury and it is essential to treat it early. An experienced physiotherapist and shoulder surgeon is the correct combination for an early recovery; visit Shirley Oaks Hospital for a consultation in the first instance.