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The deltoid, a forgotten muscle of the shoulder

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Abstract

The deltoid is a fascinating muscle with a significant role in shoulder function. It is comprised of three distinct portions (anterior or clavicular, middle or acromial, and posterior or spinal) and acts mainly as an abductor of the shoulder and stabilizer of the humeral head. Deltoid tears are not infrequently associated with large or massive rotator cuff tears and may further jeopardize shoulder function. A variety of other pathologies may affect the deltoid muscle including enthesitis, calcific tendinitis, myositis, infection, tumors, and chronic avulsion injury. Contracture of the deltoid following repeated intramuscular injections could present with progressive abduction deformity and winging of the scapula. The deltoid muscle and its innervating axillary nerve may be injured during shoulder surgery, which may have disastrous functional consequences. Axillary neuropathies leading to deltoid muscle dysfunction include traumatic injuries, quadrilateral space and Parsonage–Turner syndromes, and cause denervation of the deltoid muscle. Finally, abnormalities of the deltoid may originate from nearby pathologies of subdeltoid bursa, acromion, and distal clavicle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Hôpital Notre-Dame, 1560 rue Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, QC, H2L 4M1, Canada

    Thomas Moser & Nathalie J. Bureau

  2. Department of Radiology, CHUS – Fleurimont, 3001 12e Avenue N, Sherbrooke, QC, J1H 5N4, Canada

    Junie Lecours

  3. Department of Physiatry, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Hôpital Notre-Dame, 1560 rue Sherbrooke Est, Montréal, QC, H2L 4M1, Canada

    Johan Michaud

  4. Department of Radiology, CHU de Rennes, 35203, Rennes Cedex 2, France

    Raphaël Guillin

  5. Radiologie Laënnec, 1100 Avenue Beaumont, Ville Mont-Royal, QC, H3P 3H5, Canada

    Étienne Cardinal

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  1. Thomas Moser
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Correspondence to Thomas Moser.

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Moser, T., Lecours, J., Michaud, J. et al. The deltoid, a forgotten muscle of the shoulder. Skeletal Radiol 42, 1361–1375 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1667-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1667-7

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