Each of our days consists of many things - household tasks, time with family, work, home and hundreds and hundreds of others. In the midst of this cycle of events, we sometimes do not notice how we neglect our health, and we only remember it when pain appears, which spoils all our plans.
Especially when it comes to shoulder pain. Without it, it is impossible to raise an arm, get dressed, cook dinner or even sleep, not to mention playing your favorite sport, etc.
When we turn to a doctor, we are looking for an opportunity to quell this pain and get rid of its cause. Sometimes, it is quite simple, and sometimes it takes time and long clinical research. In any case, only an experienced orthopedic traumatologist can help you get your life back without restrictions. You should not delay a visit to the doctor at the Rudenko Medical Center in the city of Zaporizhzhia in order to prevent the progression of the pathology and the development of irreversible consequences.
There are many causes of shoulder pain, but the most common are usually:
- Traumatic damage to the ligamentous and capsular apparatus of the shoulder joint
- Degenerative and dystrophic conditions of the shoulder joint
- Benign formations of the humerus - cysts, osteoid-osteomas, non-ossifying fibromas
- Secondary damage to the humerus
- Avascular necrosis (osteonecrosis) of the humeral heads, this condition is also called shoulder cyst
Recently, we have drawn attention to the increase in appeals to the traumatologists of the Rudenko Medical Center due to aseptic necrosis of the humerus. Previously, the focus of traumatology was not focused on this condition, but today the issue of osteonecrosis of the humeral heads is more relevant than ever. Avascular necrosis of the humeral head is the second most common after osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
What complaints will a patient with a shoulder cyst present to the doctor?
Usually, these are young patients, up to 40 years old, with no concomitant rheumatological diseases of the joints. Most of them will be worried about:
- Pain in the shoulder, which is local, increases with physical exertion and subsides at rest
- Limitation of movements in the shoulder, inability to withdraw or raise the arm without pain
- A crunching or clicking sensation in the shoulder when moving
- Progression of pain and physical discomfort, lack of relief when taking painkillers
What is avascular necrosis of the humeral heads and why does it develop?
This condition can be caused by various conditions and the most common of them are:
- fractures of the humerus
Injuries with a significant displacement of fragments or multiple fragments, as a result of which the blood supply to the head of the humerus is disturbed and chronic ischemia of this area develops
- a consequence of long-term treatment with glucocorticosteroids
The exact mechanism of influence on the development of osteonecrosis has not yet been proven, but a direct dependence of steroid treatment on accelerated fatty degeneration of the bone marrow in the humerus has been revealed. This leads to an increase in intraosseous pressure and a sharp deterioration of the blood supply to the head of the humerus
- association of osteonecrosis with sickle cell anemia
Deformed erythrocytes cause local thrombosis of blood vessels and, as a result, tissue infarction
- alcohol abuse
The relationship between osteonecrosis and this bad habit is undeniable, but it has not yet been established how exactly alcohol affects the development of osteonecrosis of the humerus. Probably, it is multifactorial, and also depends on the genetic predisposition of each specific person
- dysbaric osteonecrosis
Mostly pathology related to divers. Even with adherence to decompression schedules, professional divers are always at risk of osteonecrosis of the humeral heads
- Gaucher disease
Avascular necrosis in this case develops as a result of bone marrow infiltration and damage to vessels
How to diagnose and treat shoulder cysts?
To begin with, it is necessary to consult an orthopedist-traumatologist.
After the examination and collection of your medical history, the doctor will determine the scope of necessary diagnostic measures and discuss with you the initial tactics of treatment. Usually, the early stages of osteonecrosis of the humerus are diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging. This method is the most sensitive for detecting early changes. When the disease has already progressed sufficiently, the changes can be visualized on a computer tomography or X-ray of the shoulder joint.
Once the diagnosis is determined, the treatment strategy can be modified depending on the clinical situation and the needs of the patient.
- In the absence of signs of osteonecrosis (cyst) of the head of the humerus, conservative treatment is prescribed.
- In the presence of such signs, minimally invasive interventions aimed at normalizing blood circulation in the affected parts of the humerus and restoring its structure are widely used in the clinic. Conservative treatment in this case is a mandatory component of the treatment complex.
- In the case of significant irreversible changes, usually for this pathology, a decision is made about total endoprosthesis or hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder joint.
So, osteonecrosis of the head of the humerus is a disease that is only gaining momentum in the diagnosis and development of treatment tactics. That is why it is important to diagnose this pathology in time in order to make every effort to preserve the patient's health.
Rudenko Orthopedic Center in Zaporizhia - specialists in prosthetics of shoulder joints with many years of experience. Knowledge, professionalism, high technology are the guarantee of our result for each patient.