Acute Shoulder Pain After a Fall

Author: Kayla Prokopakis, DO
Peer-reviewer and editor: Alex Tomesch, MD

An 80 year-old female tripped over her cat at home. This caused her to fall, hitting her right shoulder on the counter on the way to the floor. She is complaining of right shoulder pain and denies hitting her head or LOC. X-rays obtained in the Emergency Department are shown below.

Image prompt. Case courtesy of Assoc Prof Frank Gaillard, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 18281

What is your diagnosis?

What is the common classification system used to describe this fracture?

What physical exam findings are expected?

What is the imaging modality of choice in the ED?

What is your treatment?

References

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