You are rotating in the emergency room and are asked to make a diagnosis in
a 17-year-old man who presents with a chief compl;aint of pain in his right shoulder.
He rates the pain as 8 out of a possible 10 (10 being the most severe) and locates
the pain to the "front" of his shoulder. He states the onset was sudden and is associated
with weakness and a sensation of popping or snapping in the upper arm. A picture of
his arm is shown below
What is your diagnosis, what test(s) would you order to confirm your suspicions,
and what treatment, if any, do you suggest?
DIAGNOSIS: rupture of the long head of the biceps tendon resulting in the "Popeye" sign. The diagnosis can be confirmed by MRI and, depending on its severity, treated conservatively with rest and rehabilitation, or, in extreme cases, with surgery.
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