Upper limb injuries often result from repetitive strain, trauma, or degenerative changes. They commonly present with pain, weakness, or functional limitation. 🩺 A structured approach — history ➝ examination ➝ targeted imaging ➝ stepwise management — is essential for diagnosis and care.


Injury Type	Cause	Diagnosis (Clinical Features)	Investigations	Management
Rotator Cuff Tear 🎯	Acute trauma (fall, lifting heavy object) Degenerative tear in older adults Repetitive overhead activity (sports, labour)	Shoulder pain, worse at night 🌙 Weakness in abduction & external rotation Painful arc, reduced overhead function	X-ray ➝ rule out fracture/arthritis Ultrasound/MRI ➝ confirm tear, assess extent	Conservative: Rest, NSAIDs, physio, steroid injection Surgical repair for large/full tears (esp. young/active)
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) 🎾	Overuse of wrist extensors Repetitive gripping/typing/manual labour	Lateral elbow pain & tenderness Pain ↑ with resisted wrist extension	Clinical diagnosis Ultrasound: tendon thickening MRI if persistent/refractory	Activity modification, NSAIDs, physio (eccentric loading) Steroid or PRP injection if refractory Surgery in severe/chronic cases
Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis) ⛳	Repetitive wrist flexion/pronation Seen in golfers, pitchers, manual work	Medial elbow pain Pain ↑ with resisted wrist flexion	Clinical diagnosis Ultrasound/MRI in severe cases	Rest, NSAIDs, physio (stretch & strengthen) Steroid/PRP injections if refractory Surgery for resistant cases
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ⌨️	Repetitive wrist flexion (typing, assembly work) Pregnancy, RA, diabetes increase risk	Numbness/tingling in thumb, index, middle fingers Night symptoms 🌙 Weak thumb abduction (thenar wasting if chronic)	Nerve conduction studies (gold standard) Ultrasound/MRI ➝ median nerve compression	Wrist splinting (esp. at night) Steroid injections, NSAIDs Surgical decompression if severe/persistent
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis 👍	Repetitive thumb/wrist motion Common in new mothers (“mother’s wrist”)	Pain/swelling at thumb base Positive Finkelstein’s test	Clinical diagnosis US: thickened tendon sheath	Thumb spica splint + NSAIDs Steroid injection for persistent pain Surgical release if refractory
Trigger Finger ☝️	Repetitive gripping Linked to diabetes & RA	Locking/catching finger Tenderness at A1 pulley Severe ➝ fixed flexion deformity	Clinical diagnosis US: thickened tendon sheath	Splinting, NSAIDs Steroid injection for moderate cases Surgical release if refractory

💡 Teaching Pearl: Always start with conservative management for soft tissue injuries. Surgery is reserved for persistent pain, functional limitation, or complete tears. Physiotherapy is central to recovery 🏋️.

The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms.

Upper limb Soft Tissue Injuries

Categories