By Alexander J. Tomesch, MD|2022-05-28T09:47:48-07:00May 9, 2022|Expert Peer Reviewed (Clinical), Orthopedic, SplintER|
SplintER Series: Do You Even Lift?
A 35-year-old male presents after injuring his left shoulder while weight lifting two days ago. He describes sudden-onset pain with associated “pop” in his left anterior/medial shoulder and chest as he was bench pressing. On exam, he has ecchymosis over the medial aspect of his humeral shaft and left chest. He has decreased strength with resisted internal rotation of the shoulder. An MRI is obtained and shown above (Image 1: Case courtesy of Dr. Tim Luijkx, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 36975)
SplintER Series: My Arm Is Stuck Like This
A 70-year-old female presents with right shoulder pain and the inability to adduct her arm after she fell on the sidewalk. You obtain shoulder x-rays and see the following images (Image 1: AP, scapular Y, and axillary views of the right shoulder. Author’s own images).
SplintER Series: My Foot Shouldn’t Look Like This

A 45-year-old male presents with left foot pain and deformity after he inverted his foot while running on uneven pavement. You obtain foot and ankle x-rays and see the following images (Image 1. AP and lateral views of the left foot. Author’s own images).
SplintER Series: I Declare a Thumb War
A 39-year-old female presents to the emergency department with right thumb pain after falling in a skiing accident. On exam, there is mild swelling and tenderness on the ulnar aspect of the 1st MCP joint. Additionally, there is laxity with valgus stressing of the 1st MCP joint. An x-ray is obtained and shown above (Image 1. Provided by Alex Tomesch, MD).
SplintER Series: Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
A 45-year-old man presents to the emergency department with chest pain after a high-speed motor vehicle accident where his sternum hit the steering wheel. You notice an area of ecchymosis noted over his sternum, so you decide to get a CT scan (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Case courtesy of Dr Henry Knipe, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 26332
SplintER Series: Pedal to the Metal

A 32-year-old female presents to the emergency department with right ankle pain after a high-speed motor vehicle accident. On exam, she is noted to have ecchymosis and swelling over the distal foot, and pain with ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. An x-ray is obtained as shown above (Image 1. Case courtesy of Dr. Charlie Chia-Tsong Hsu, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 18235).