The differential diagnosis of lesions of the rotator cuff and of neurological disorders in the shoulder joint area
Prudnikov, O.E.
Zhurnal Nevropatologii i Psikhiatrii Imeni S.S. Korsakova 92(3): 19-23
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-4588 PMID: 1332319 Document Number: 403573
Lesions of the rotating cuff is a most frequent cause of disorders in the shoulder joint. However, they are frequently misdiagnosed and their manifestations use to be considered as those of scapulohumeral periarthritis, cervical osteochondrosis, or even brachial plexus palsy. The paper deals with symptoms and signs of rotating cuff lesions that are fairly different from those of the conditions above cited. It is emphasized that the deltoid muscle palsy cannot result in a permanent loss or restriction of active elevation of the arm when the function of the rotating cuff remains undisturbed. 16 patients with ruptures of the rotating cuff and simultaneous axillary palsy (11 cases) or Erb-Duchenne paralysis (5 cases) were successfully operated on by the author. Experience gained with treating lesions of the rotating cuff including surgical repair of the cuff in the above-mentioned cases permitted drawing a table of the differential diagnosis of rotatory cuff lesions and certain neurological and neurodystrophic lesions in the shoulder joint as well as specifying the identification of the level of brachial plexus lesion.