RheumatologyTier 2Topic

X-ray - shoulders

Role

  • Shoulder X-ray provides first-line bony assessment for shoulder pain/trauma - fracture, dislocation, and glenohumeral/acromioclavicular osteoarthritis - though it has limited sensitivity for the soft tissue pathology (rotator cuff, labrum) that causes the majority of atraumatic shoulder pain
  • Appropriate first-line imaging for shoulder trauma (fracture/dislocation) and for suspected glenohumeral osteoarthritis, but of limited standalone value for most atraumatic shoulder pain, which is predominantly soft-tissue in origin

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