Neck-shoulder pain – is it possible to use commonly used provocative tests and functional scores for evaluation? Large scale prospective cohort study

Abstract

Background. According to International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), the prevalence of neck-shoulder pain in general population is the fourth leading cause of disability. Neck-shoulder pain is known to be caused by different conditions. The aim of this study was to determine and statistically justify the correlation between shoulder girdle injuries and development of neck-shoulder pain syndrome. Methods. The study enrolled 1402 patients with hospital-treated shoulder girdle injuries (with consequences of upper limb trauma). Detailed protocol and questionnaire for clinical examination after discharge from the hospital were conducted. The prevalence of neck-shoulder pain among patients was calculated. The diagnostic value (sensitivity and specificity) of tests used in the study was assessed. Results. The prevalence of neck-shoulder pain was 66,9%. According to questionnaire results (VAS, ODI, SF-36, UCLA, SPADI, DASH), the tendency of increasing pain intensity, progressive upper extremity functional loss and, therefore, quality of life impairment in patients with shoulder girdle injury was noticed. Conclusion. 3 types of neck-shoulder pain syndrome in patients with shoulder girdle injury can be determined: articular, vertebrogenic and mixed (myofascial), which correlate with anatomical localization of the injury.