Scapulothoracic Disorders: Anatomy, Kinematics, Clinical Assessment, and Multimodality Imaging

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal Radiology
• Orthopedic Imaging

Background:

• Scapulothoracic disorders are common causes of shoulder and neck pain, often linked to other shoulder abnormalities.
• Conditions like scapular dyskinesis, fractures, masses, and neuropathies can severely affect shoulder function, especially in athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of imaging in diagnosing scapulothoracic disorders.
• To emphasize the role of multimodality imaging in assessing the complex scapulothoracic joint.

Main Methods:

• Review of radiographic studies, including standard and dynamic assessments.
• Utilization of CT for osseous detail and MRI for soft-tissue and nerve evaluation.
• Emphasis on advanced MRI techniques and tailored acquisitions for accurate interpretation.

Main Results:

• Radiography detects osseous deformities and motion abnormalities.
• CT identifies osseous variants, occult fractures, and tumors.
• MRI provides detailed soft-tissue, muscle, and nerve assessment.

Conclusions:

• A multimodality imaging approach, combined with clinical evaluation, is essential for comprehensive scapulothoracic joint assessment.
• Radiologists play a key role in diagnosing and managing these complex musculoskeletal conditions.