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Shoulder pain - Management
When should I refer people with acromioclavicular joint disorders?
- Refer to an interface clinic (if available locally), or an orthopaedic surgeon or rheumatologist (depending on the reason for referral) if there is:
- Diagnostic uncertainty.
- Failure to maintain function despite conservative measures.
- Inadequate improvement after 3 months of primary care treatment.
- Consider earlier referral for certain groups for whom shoulder pain is particularly disabling (e.g. athletes involved in overhead sports, or people involved in heavy manual labour).
- Consider urgent referral to the appropriate specialist if red flag features (including suspected dislocation) are present.
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