Osteoarthritis of Shoulder

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OA Shoulder: Intro & Epi - Creaky Joint Culprits

  • Definition: Cartilage degeneration in Glenohumeral (GH) or Acromioclavicular (AC) joints.
  • Types:
    • Primary: Idiopathic, age-related wear.
    • Secondary: Due to trauma, Rotator Cuff (RC) tear, instability, overuse, genetics, obesity.
  • Prevalence: Common, incidence ↑ with age. Affects women more than men, especially post-menopause.
  • Key Risk Factors: Age >50 yrs, female, obesity, prior trauma, repetitive overuse, RC tears, chronic instability, genetics. Shoulder Joint Complex: Scapulothoracic, AC, GH, SC Joints

⭐ Glenohumeral OA is less common than knee/hip OA but significantly disabling.

OA Shoulder: Patho & Types - Joint's Slow Grind

  • Pathophysiology: Joint's slow grind.
    • Cartilage: Initial loss of proteoglycans & water, then collagen network disruption, and chondrocyte dysfunction/death.
    • Subchondral Bone: Sclerosis (thickening), marginal osteophytes (bone spurs), and subchondral cyst formation.
    • Synovitis: Mild, chronic inflammation of the synovial lining.
  • Classification (GH OA): Samilson-Prieto (humeral/glenoid osteophytes).
    • Grade 1: Osteophytes <3 mm.
    • Grade 2: Osteophytes 3-7 mm.
    • Grade 3: Osteophytes >7 mm; may show joint space narrowing, sclerosis.

⭐ > Posterior glenoid wear is a common finding in advanced glenohumeral OA.

Normal vs. Osteoarthritic Shoulder Joint

OA Shoulder: Clinical & Dx - Spotting the Stiffness

  • Symptoms:
    • Pain: Insidious onset, activity-related, night pain, progressive.
    • Stiffness: Morning or after inactivity, progressive.
    • Crepitus: Grinding/popping sensation with movement.
    • ↓Range of Motion (ROM): Global, particularly external rotation & abduction.
    • Functional limitation: Difficulty with ADLs (dressing, combing hair), overhead activities.
  • Signs:
    • Tenderness: Over glenohumeral joint line (anterior/posterior).
    • Muscle atrophy: Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, deltoid in advanced stages.
    • Deformity: Flattening of shoulder contour (late).
  • Diagnosis:
    • History & Physical Exam:
      • Apley's scratch test: Assesses functional internal/external rotation.
      • Hawkins-Kennedy, Neer's: For associated rotator cuff pathology.
    • Imaging:
      • X-ray (Standard views: AP, axillary lateral, Grashey):
        • 📌 LOSS: Loss of joint space (JSN - often superior/posterior), Osteophytes (humeral head/glenoid), Subchondral sclerosis, Subchondral cysts.
        • Glenoid erosion patterns (e.g., Walch B2: biconcave glenoid, posterior wear).
      • MRI/CT indications: Evaluate rotator cuff, bone stock for arthroplasty, diagnostic uncertainty.

Shoulder Osteoarthritis X-ray vs. Normal Shoulder X-ray

⭐ Axillary view is crucial for assessing glenohumeral joint space narrowing, posterior glenoid erosion, and osteophytes.

OA Shoulder: Management - Easing the Ache

Conservative:

  • Patient education, activity modification (e.g. avoiding overhead work).
  • Physiotherapy: ROM, strengthening - esp. rotator cuff & deltoid.
  • NSAIDs for pain/inflammation.
  • Intra-articular injections:
    • Corticosteroids: Short-term relief (limit <3-4/year).
    • Hyaluronic acid: Variable evidence for benefit.
    • PRP: Emerging evidence, research ongoing.

Surgical Intervention: (For failed conservative Rx, persistent pain, functional limitation)

Surgical Options:

  • Arthroscopic debridement: Limited role, mainly for mechanical symptoms, temporary relief.
  • Hemiarthroplasty: For intact glenoid, functional cuff, younger patients.
  • Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (TSA): Gold standard for intact rotator cuff, good glenoid stock.
  • Reverse TSA (rTSA): For cuff tear arthropathy, severe glenoid bone loss, or failed TSA. 📌 Deltoid driven.

⭐ rTSA is preferred in OA with irreparable rotator cuff tears or severe glenoid bone loss, as it biomechanically compensates for cuff deficiency, relying on the deltoid.

Total vs. Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty Implants

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Glenohumeral joint is the most common site for shoulder OA.
  • Symptoms: activity-related pain, night pain, progressive stiffness.
  • X-ray: joint space narrowing, osteophytes (inferior humeral head - "Goat's beard"), subchondral sclerosis.
  • Primary OA is less common than secondary OA (e.g., post-traumatic, cuff tear arthropathy).
  • Management: conservative (NSAIDs, physiotherapy) then surgical (arthroplasty).
  • Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (TSA) for severe OA with intact rotator cuff.
  • Reverse TSA if rotator cuff deficient.

Practice Questions: Osteoarthritis of Shoulder

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