Which condition is indicated by an inability to touch the left scapula with the right hand?

The inability to touch the left scapula with the right hand is indicative of a rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff consists of a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint and allow for a wide range of shoulder movements. A tear can affect mobility and strength, making it difficult to perform tasks that involve reaching or lifting the arm overhead. In this scenario, the inability to reach the scapula suggests a limitation in the range of motion typically associated with a rotator cuff injury.

The other conditions listed may also impair shoulder function but manifest differently. A fractured clavicle usually presents with localized pain and often an abnormal shoulder positioning, while a shoulder dislocation would result in immediate visible deformity and extreme pain with movement. Frozen shoulder, known as adhesive capsulitis, involves a gradual loss of motion in the shoulder, but is characterized by stiffness rather than an acute inability to reach for the scapula. Therefore, the specific symptom of not being able to touch the left scapula with the right hand aligns closely with the mechanics and limitations caused by a rotator cuff tear.