Chest Pain - Torn Rotator Cuff

Story Highlights:
Work Related Chest Pain
Torn Rotator Cuff

Date: March 14, 2011
Location: State of Georgia | Work Related Accident
Type: Workers' Compensation
Outcome: Chest Pain Turns Out To Be Torn Rotator Cuff

As adults, we are all aware of the signs of cardiac arrest. The most common would be chest pain and pain radiating down left arm and often pain through the back area. After experiencing chest pain at work, one of our clients ended up in the emergency room department fearing the worst. Following several heart tests including an EKG and chest x-ray he was released to return home for a non-cardiac chest pain. Of course not fully satisfied and still having intermediate chest pain he followed up with a cardiologist. Again, following several tests it was determined that the pain in the center of his chest which was radiating down the left arm and through the back was muskuloskeletal in nature and warranted an orthopaedic evaluation.

The patient was seen by an orthopaedic specialist who performed several in office tests which revealed limited range of motion in the left shoulder and increased pain in the back area upon manipulation of the shoulder. The orthopaedic specialist ordered an MRI of the shoulder which revealed a partial thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon as well as a longitudinal tear throughout the infraspinatus tendon. The MRI did not reveal any muscular atrophy therefore it was determined to be an acute injury.

Upon a return visit  following the MRI  to the orthopaedic specialist, it was determined that the etiology and mechanism of injury was directly related to the type of manual labor he was performing on a daily basis subsequently resulting in a torn rotator cuff.

If you have questions regarding the mechanism of an injury or a work related accident please feel free to contact our office for a free consultation at (770) 577-3020.