"The shoulder pain is the second reason for attention in our consultations"

By the practice of some sports, youth, or joint deterioration in the elderly, the shoulder has become common reason for attention in the orthopedic consultations. Dr. Manuel Mendoza, head of shoulder pathologies Multidisciplinary Unit of Traumatology and Orthopedics of the Tres Torres Clinic, explains the main shoulder ailments and recent advances in treatment.

What is the incidence of shoulder pathology in a query trauma?

The reality is that queries for shoulder pain have increased considerably in recent years. I would say that the shoulder has become the second joint reason for consultation after knee injuries in the musculoskeletal system.

Among young people, increasing contact sports and release is causing an increase in overuse tendinopathy and shoulder intestabilidad. In the older population, joint deterioration and tendon structures, night pain and inability to perform activities of daily life are the most frequent causes of consultation.

What are the most important advances in the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder injuries?

Surely highlight two: the MRI and arthroscopic surgery. MRI gives us a clear diagnosis of both quantitative and qualitative injury. With arthroscopy we can repair the damage to semi-invasive manner, without large surgical incisions.

Among the advances we must also highlight the great progress experienced in biocompatible materials to repair fractures or prosthetic chapter in the case that joint replacement is required, as in the hip or knee.

Doctor Mendoza, has spoken to us about young athletes and injuries suffered: instability, dislocation ... How they affect these problems?

Decrease performance significantly. a symptom called "apprehension", ie, the feeling or confirmation that at any given time suffer a dislocation and sometimes must go to an emergency room appears. In addition, these injuries have pain and forced to leave the sport, associating fatigue effort.

In the case of the adult population over 40 years, how injuries affect the shoulder tendons in the day?

Almost always nocturnal pain that prevents sleep sleeping on the affected side, and with problems or inability to lift or move your hand over the shoulders; or in the case of women, of being able to close the fastener not behind. Activities such as dressing, fasten seat belt car or toileting cause pain and difficulty to perform them. To prevent this from happening shoulder tendons must be in perfect condition and repaired before evolving severe osteoarthritis put in place.