Shoulder Approaches for Orthopaedic Fellowship Examination

David Hughes:

- The teaching session focuses on two shoulder surgical approaches: anterior deltoid-pectoral and posterior approach.

- The anterior deltoid-pectoral approach is commonly used for anterior shoulder surgeries, proximal humeral fractures, and combined procedures.

- Key considerations for the approach include patient positioning, anatomical landmarks (coracoid process, deltoid-pectoral groove), structures at risk (cephalic vein, musculocutaneous nerve), and identifying the long head of biceps for proximal humeral fractures.

- Pitfalls to be aware of include mistakenly discussing deep dissection and glenoid exposure instead of focusing on the proximal humeral fracture during the examination.

- The posterior approach is less commonly used but is a popular examination question, primarily testing knowledge of shoulder anatomy, spaces, and triangles. It is performed for specific cases like osteocartilaginous lesions and posterior humeral fractures.

Structures at risk include the suprascapular nerve, axillary nerve, and circumflex scapular artery and vein.

This teaching video is specifically helpful for candidates preparing for the following Orthopaedic Exams : FRCS , European Board (FEBOT) , SICOT Diploma and Arabic Boards

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