Medical dictionary

What is a shoulder dislocation? The shoulder consists of the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade) and the humerus (upper arm bone). The humerus inserts inside the glenoid cavity (socket) of the scapula. It is the joint with the highest range of movement, due to the high number of surrounding muscles. Shoulder dislocations are a common injury in sports and occur when the head of t

What is shoulder instability? Shoulder instability is a problem affecting the structures surrounding the shoulder joint. The shoulder is a ‘ball-and-socket’ joint, meaning the end of the humerus (the upper arm bone) looks like a ball, fitting inside the corresponding socket, called the glenoid, in the scapula (shoulder blade). In shoulder instability, this joint either slides out

What is shoulder osteoarthritis?   Shoulder osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that occurs when the cartilage cushioning the ends of the joints in the shoulder wears down over time. This condition primarily affects the glenohumeral joint (where the arm connects to the shoulder) and the acromioclavicular joint (where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade). As the car

What is shoulder pain?   Shoulder pain is any kind of pain that occurs in or around the shoulder joint, including the shoulder blades.     What are the different types of shoulder pain?   You can experience very specific types of shoulder pain, such as: aching shoulder pain shooting shoulder pain sharp shoulder pain warm or burning shou

What is a shoulder prosthesis? A shoulder prosthesis is an artificial joint that replaces your damaged shoulder joint by surgical intervention. It is usually carried out when other forms of conservative treatment haven’t worked to relieve symptoms of pain, discomfort and reduced range of movement in your shoulder. People who suffer from osteoarthritis often require a shoulder pr

What is shoulder surgery?   Shoulder surgery treats injured shoulders by repairing the muscles, connective tissue, or damaged joints that occur from traumatic injury, or from where the shoulder has been overused.   The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the body, allowing the arm to be placed and rotated in many positions in front, above, to the side and behind the body.

What is shoulder tendonitis? Tendonitis refers to the inflammation of a tendon, in which micro tears and areas of necrosis occur. Tendonitis in the shoulder can mainly affect the long portion of the brachial biceps and the muscles of the rotator cuff. What is the outlook for shoulder tendonitis? Physical therapy and exercise are usually effective when it comes to improv

What is skeletal dysplasia? A skeletal dysplasia is a problem with the way that bones grow and develop. There are over 200 types of skeletal dysplasia, affecting 1 in 4,000 births. The most common types of skeletal dysplasia are achondroplasia, achondrogenesis, thanatophoric dysplasia, and osteogenesis imperfecta. Symptoms of skeletal dysplasia include: short arms and legs

What is a SLAP tear? A SLAP tear is a type of shoulder injury. Your shoulder is surrounded by a band of tissue called the labrum to keep the joint stable. The labrum in your shoulder can tear in many ways. A SLAP tear involves the labrum being torn where it connects to your biceps tendon, both at the front or back. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of a SLAP tear include: a clicki