Shoulder and Arm
The scapula is a broad, flat, triangular-shaped bone located on the upper and posterior part of the chest.
The posterior surface of the scapula is divided into two unequal parts by a bony ridge, along which lies the acromion process that forms a joint with the clavicle. On the lateral side of this bone, there is a cavity called the glenoid, which articulates with the head of the humerus — the longest and largest bone of the upper limb — forming the shoulder joint.
This joint is a ball-and-socket type, meaning, as the name suggests, the rounded head of the humerus sits within the cup-shaped glenoid of the scapula.
The shoulder joint has the widest range of motion among all joints in the body.
During activities where the arm is raised above the head, this joint is more prone to injury, and this risk increases with age.
Factors causing shoulder tendon tears are generally divided into two categories:
Injuries caused by trauma, such as quickly lifting a heavy object.
Injuries caused by degeneration or wear and tear, which occur gradually over time.
Soft tissues called ligaments connect the shoulder bones to each other, and if any of them tear, recurrent shoulder dislocations can occur.
Around this joint, there are four muscles collectively called the rotator cuff.
The primary role of these muscles is to maintain the stability of the shoulder joint.
For patients with chronic shoulder problems or joint injuries, arthroscopy is performed. This method is used both to diagnose damage and to repair injuries.
Some shoulder surgeries performed using arthroscopy include:
Debridement removal
Bursectomy
Rotator cuff repair
Impingement syndrome repair