Care for Shoulder Problems
To repair rotator cuff tears and other painful conditions, look to our orthopedic surgeons for the most advanced shoulder surgeries
Rotator Cuff
Our surgeons perform both standard open surgery and arthroscopic surgery to repair injury to the rotator cuff, the series of tendons that control the motion of the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff may be damaged by a traumatic injury or by repetitive overhand activity. By performing an arthroscopy, we can assess the condition of the joint and the extent of the damage. If possible, we will also repair the damage arthroscopically.
If open surgery is necessary, we use sutures to reattach the tendons into the bone and sometimes remove bone spurs, inflamed tissue and damaged tendons.
Shoulder Replacement
For badly damaged shoulders, we have orthopedic surgeons who specialize in shoulders. They perform total shoulder replacement, attaching a plastic socket to the shoulder bone and replacing the head of the upper arm bone with a metal ball. The procedure eliminates much of the pain and restores some mobility.
We also have an orthopedic surgeon who implants an Aequalis® Reversed Shoulder Prosthesis. This advanced procedure is perfect for people in their 70s and 80s with a worn-out rotator cuff once thought irreparable. The surgeon attaches a metal ball to the shoulder bone and attaches a plastic socket to the upper arm bone. The deltoid muscle, not the rotator cuff, is used to lift the arm. This procedure is the “reverse” of conventional shoulder replacements. It eliminates pain and gives you full range of motion.
Labrum Tears
The labrum is the cartilage that forms a rim around the shoulder socket. When it tears, it needs to be treated, or fluid leaks and creates a painful cyst. These tears can result from falls, but also are common sports injuries, especially in baseball or swimming. Our orthopedic surgeons remove the cyst using a minimally invasive technique called arthroscopy. This reduces pain and soreness after surgery.
Shoulder Reconstruction
If you’ve suffered a dislocated shoulder or other traumatic injury, or damaged your shoulder through repetitive motion, you may have joint imbalance or shoulder instability that requires reconstructive surgery. If rest, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy are not sufficient, our surgeons will perform surgery to restore muscle strength and full mobility. This surgery involves reattaching the ligaments to the bone and tightening the fibrous capsule of this joint.
This page last updated 12/8/08 10:06 PM
