What is the term for the injury caused by trauma to the shoulder that can result in inflammation and pain?

The term that best describes an injury caused by trauma to the shoulder, often leading to inflammation and pain, is rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint, providing stability and allowing for a wide range of motion. Trauma to this area can result from acute injuries, such as falls or repetitive overhead movements, often leading to inflammation of the tendons or muscles, which can cause pain and restrict movement.

While tendonitis, sprains, and tenosynovitis all relate to inflammation or injury in various soft tissues, they do not specifically describe trauma to the shoulder and its implications as accurately as the term rotator cuff injury. Tendonitis, for instance, specifically refers to the inflammation of a tendon, which can be one aspect of a rotator cuff injury, but it is a broader term that does not encompass the full complexity of the rotator cuff's role and the specific injuries that can occur in that area. Similarly, a sprain specifically refers to ligament injuries, while tenosynovitis deals with inflammation of the synovial sheath surrounding tendons. Therefore, rotator cuff injury is the most precise term for this specific type of shoulder trauma.