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A common issue orthopedic surgeons see in their patients is shoulder joint inflammation. Many people seek help from orthopedists for shoulder pain, and a common diagnosis is “shoulder bursitis” or “rotator cuff tendonitis.” The terms are often used interchangeably and create a need for clarification among people wondering which condition they have. 

Both of these conditions are varied ways of telling there is inflammation in a specific area in the shoulder joint, leading to some common symptoms. The correct terminology for these symptoms is “impingement syndrome.”

Our shoulder is a complicated joint with several bones, ligaments and muscles connecting the upper extremities to the chest. Impingement syndrome happens when inflammation occurs between the top of the arm bone and the shoulder blade tip. Between these bones are rotator cuff bones and bursa protecting those tendons. 

Causes and symptoms of shoulder bursitis and impingement syndrome

As we know, impingement syndrome is used for pinching the bursa and the tendons of the rotator cuff in between the bones. So, some individuals have bone shapes with less space than others. Therefore, when the tendons or the bursa thickens a little, it leads to symptoms of shoulder impingement.

Other causes include injury that initiates inflammation, after which the problem becomes self-exacerbating, leading to the thickening of the bursa and tendons. Some common symptoms are pain while doing overhead activities, discomfort while sleeping and pain in the upper arm.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosing shoulder impingement syndrome starts with a proper physical examination by the healthcare provider. X-rays are done to assess the shoulder’s bony anatomy. MRI can also be considered to ensure there is no rotator cuff tear. Most patients get relief from shoulder impingement with simple and non-surgical treatments. In some cases, surgical intervention is required to treat shoulder bursitis. Specified treatments might differ based on the patient’s conditions and how they respond to the treatment. 

Surgical treatment mainly includes subacromial decompression, which is done by making use of instruments put in through small-size incisions. Two to four incisions are done based on the location where the inflammation has occurred and the amount of work needed. Then a small cannula is put into each incision to allow instruments to pass in and out of the shoulder.

While one of the instruments is a video camera, the other is a shaver. The shaver is utilized for the removal of the inflamed bursa. After removing the bursa, the rotator cuff is checked for any signs of tear.

Conclusion

Impingement syndrome is a medical term used for inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons and of the bursa of those tendons. This condition causes pain in the shoulder joint while lifting your arm overhead. Simple treatments can control this inflammation; however, surgical options are available if they fail. Even if surgical intervention is highly effective, specific postoperative rehabilitation complications might occur. This is why an orthopedist first tries simple treatment options to check their effectiveness.So, timely and early consultation by a good orthopedician is important for right treatment.

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