What condition should be suspected in a patient experiencing pain with adduction of the left arm?

When a patient experiences pain with adduction of the left arm, acromioclavicular joint involvement could be highly suspected due to the mechanics of shoulder movement and the specific location of pain. The acromioclavicular joint plays a key role in the movement of the shoulder girdle, particularly during arm adduction, which involves bringing the arm closer to the body midline.

Involvement of this joint typically presents as pain localized at the top of the shoulder and can often be exacerbated by movements that stress or mobilize the acromioclavicular joint. Adduction of the arm places strain on this joint and can elicit pain if there is an issue, such as inflammation or injury at the acromioclavicular joint.

Other conditions like shoulder bursitis, rotator cuff tears, or subacromial impingement may also cause shoulder pain, but the specific symptom of pain elicited during adduction closely aligns with issues at the acromioclavicular joint. In these other conditions, pain might be encountered in a wider range of movements or under different circumstances, making the specific pain with adduction a key indicator of potential acromioclavicular joint pathology.