Hand and Upper Limb

Terry Thomas sign is an important sign on wrist x-rays that indicate a type of wrist injury. It refers to an increase in the scapholunate space on an AP radiograph of the wrist or coronal CT scan. The increased distance indicates scapholunate dissociation and often can be associated with rotary subluxation of the scaphoid. The […]

Idiopathic structural scoliosis is the most common type of scoliosis. Rest of the scoliosis types are grouped under the term nonidiopathic scoliosis. Nonstructural scoliosis has the lateral curvature but there is no structural abnormality in the spine. The curvature is in response to habit or a disease process like inflammation. Postural scoliosis is a type […]

Wrist x-rays are commonly done for wrist injuries and other wrist ailments. Wrist x-rays are only able to tell about the status of carpal bones radiocarpal joint Carpometacarpal joint Distal radius Ulna In clinical practice, the common x-ray views of the wrist are posteroanterior and lateral. Oblique radiographs are included to increase sensitivity to carpal, metacarpal, […]

Distal clavicle osteolysis refers to the process causing resorption of subchondral bone in the distal clavicle [lateral calvicle], often caused by repetitive strain injury and microfracture, and presenting as pain in the acromioclavicular joint. Distal clavicle osteolysis was first described in 1936. Distal clavicle osteolysis is believed to be an underreported and underdiagnosed condition. More […]

Humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament or HAGL refers to avulsion of the inferior glenohumeral ligament (IGHL) from its humeral insertion. When it is associated with a bony avulsion fracture, it is called as bony humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (BHAGL lesion). Humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament is often seen in young men engaged in contact sports […]

Axillary nerve injury can result either from compression of the axillary nerve or traumatic injury resulting from traction, direct trauma or from injections. As deltoid is the muscle that is being supplied along with skin over the deltoid area, the axillary nerve injury causes deltoid muscle paralysis and numbness over the region. Axillary nerve injury is […]

Spinal accessory nerve palsy often occurs due to lesions in the neck, most often due to iatrogenic reasons. The nerve is especially vulnerable in the posterior triangle of the neck owing to its long and superficial course in the posterior cervical neck. Iatrogenic spinal accessory nerve injury most commonly occurs following diagnostic lymph node biopsies […]

Serratus anterior paralysis is a condition that characterized by pain, loss of shoulder movement and winging of scapula owing to damage or injury of the long thoracic nerve. This nerve evolves from the roots of neck vertebrae (C5-C7) and supplies to serratus anterior muscle that retains the scapula bone to the chest wall. Long thoracic […]

Scapular winging or winged scapula refers to a dysfunction involving the stabilizing muscles of the scapula resulting in imbalance and abnormal motion of the scapula and causing protrusion or prominence of scapula bone. Winging of the scapula is a rare but potentially debilitating condition that can affect the ability to lift, pull, and push heavy […]

Scapulothoracic dissociation refers to complete separation of the scapula and the upper extremity from the thoracic attachments. It was defined as a complete disruption of the scapulothoracic articulation with lateral scapular displacement and intact skin by Oereck in 1984 who is credited with its first report. It is also called traumatic forequarter amputation with intact […]