Causes of Left Shoulder Pain

Traumatic Causes

The American College of Radiology recommends considering fractures, including clavicle fractures, scapula fractures, and proximal humerus fractures, as the most common traumatic etiology of left shoulder pain 1, 2
Soft tissue injuries, such as rotator cuff tears, acromioclavicular ligament injuries, and labroligamentous complex tears, are common in traumatic left shoulder pain 1, 2, 3
Joint instability, including glenohumeral dislocations and acromioclavicular joint dislocations, can present as left shoulder pain 1, 2

The American College of Radiology suggests that degenerative conditions, such as acromioclavicular joint arthritis, are common in patients over 35-40 years with left shoulder pain 4
Biceps tendon pathology is a structural cause of left shoulder pain 4

Cervical spine pathology, including cervical radiculopathy and nerve compression syndromes, can manifest as left shoulder pain 4

Patients under 35 years predominantly experience instability-related injuries, labral tears, and sports-related trauma as causes of left shoulder pain 1, 4
Patients over 35-40 years predominantly experience rotator cuff disease and degenerative changes as causes of left shoulder pain 4, 5

Septic arthritis requires immediate evaluation when systemic symptoms, such as fever, chills, or constitutional symptoms, are present 4, 5
Vascular compromise, including axillary artery injury, subclavian or brachial artery injury, is uncommon but debilitating 6
Neurological injury, including brachial plexus injury and peripheral nerve injury, can occur in the trauma setting 6