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Occupational Medicine18 papers

Synovitis/tenosynovitis - shoulder

Last edited: 4/15/2026

Overview

Synovitis and tenosynovitis affecting the shoulder involve inflammation of the synovial membrane or tendon sheaths, often leading to pain, swelling, and restricted movement 1.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Presentation: Pain, swelling, and tenderness over the shoulder joint or affected tendons 1.
  • Imaging: Computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) using contrast media like iotrolan can enhance diagnostic accuracy; addition of adrenaline to iohexol may improve density visualization 3.
  • Grading: Specific grading systems for severity are not detailed in the provided abstracts.
  • Management

  • First-Line Treatments:
  • - Conservative Management: Rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE protocol), and physical therapy 1. - Pharmacotherapy: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation 1.
  • Adjunctive Treatments:
  • - Regional Anesthesia: Interscalene brachial plexus blocks for perioperative analgesia; continuous blocks require careful catheter placement to avoid complications 1.

    Special Populations

  • Comorbidities: No specific guidance provided for comorbidities in the abstracts 1.
  • Sex/Gender Differences: Consider potential differences in muscle coordination and sensory hypersensitivity in treatment approaches for neck/shoulder disorders 2.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Utilize interscalene brachial plexus blocks cautiously for shoulder surgery, emphasizing precise catheter placement to minimize complications (Evidence: Moderate 1).
  • Consider the use of iso-osmolar contrast media like iotrolan in CTA for shoulder imaging, noting that adrenaline addition to monomeric contrast can enhance visualization (Evidence: Moderate 3).
  • Account for sex/gender differences in motor control and sensory characteristics when managing shoulder synovitis/tenosynovitis (Evidence: Moderate 2).
  • References

    1 Litz RJ, Feigl GC, Radny D, Weiß T, Schwarzkopf P, Mäcken T. Continuous Interscalene Brachial Plexus Blocks: An Anatomical Challenge between Scylla and Charybdis?. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) 2024. link 2 Côté JN. A critical review on physical factors and functional characteristics that may explain a sex/gender difference in work-related neck/shoulder disorders. Ergonomics 2012. link 3 Wellings RM, Davies AM, Pynsent PB, Cassar-Pullicino VN. A comparison of a conventional non-ionic contrast medium (iohexol) alone and with adrenaline and an iso-osmolar non-ionic contrast medium (iotrolan) in computed tomographic arthrography of the shoulder. The British journal of radiology 1994. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Continuous Interscalene Brachial Plexus Blocks: An Anatomical Challenge between Scylla and Charybdis?Litz RJ, Feigl GC, Radny D, Weiß T, Schwarzkopf P, Mäcken T Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (2024)
    2. [2]
    3. [3]

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