Shoulder Conditions and Treatments

We specialize in a range of shoulder conditions, including:

Acromioclavicular joint injuries

An injury to the top of the shoulder and often associated with repetitive movements or overuse but can also be caused by trauma. Common in athletes and people under 35 years of age. Physical therapy can be an effective treatment for this type of injury.

Broken collar bone

Often the result of a fall or car collision, broken collarbones can be painful and disabling. Both surgical and non-surgical treatments may be used to repair a broken collarbone, depending on the severity and type of damage.

Burns and stingers

An upper arm nerve injury, a burner or a stinger refers to the resulting sensation that occurs in the shoulder-to-hand area. Common cause: contact sports.

Dislocated shoulder

The shoulder joint’s flexibility makes it easy to dislocate. Both partial and complete dislocation cause pain and unsteadiness in the shoulder.

Frozen shoulder

Most common among 40 to 60-year-old individuals, frozen shoulder may cause pain, stiffness and immobility. About 90% of patients recover with non-surgical treatments.

Labral tear

A labral tear can present itself as a full or partial cartilage tear of the shoulder. Causes include overuse, injury and age. Common in people 40 and older. Surgery is required for severe tears to ensure shoulder stability.

Rotator cuff tear: Surgery vs. rehabilitation

Pain and degree of daily use of the arms (e.g., lifting boxes overhead at work) generally determine whether surgery or rehabilitation is the most viable solution for a torn rotator cuff.

Rupture of biceps tendons at the shoulder

Characterized by sharp pain, a “pop” upon injury, cramping, bruising, and weakness of the shoulder, a ruptured biceps tendon often results from lifting or falling. For most patients, non-surgical treatments allow the tendon to recover over time.

Scapular disorders

A condition of the shoulder blade that causes muscle weakness and pain. It is generally associated with a crunching or snapping sound when the affected arm is moved away from the body. Most cases can be remedied with physical therapy.

Separated shoulder

Shoulder separation causes mild to severe pain and deformity. The condition generally results from a direct fall onto the shoulder and may or may not require surgery.

Shoulder impingement

Impingement causes irritation and pain within the shoulder. Common in middle-aged adults and young athletes, shoulder impingement is generally improved with non-surgical treatments.

Shoulder instability

Instability of the shoulder is when the joint is too loose in the socket and has unstable movement. It can lead to arthritis if not treated. Non-surgical and surgical treatments are available to stabilize the joint.

Shoulder pain/injuries

Shoulder pain, one of the most common complaints, can be caused by a variety of conditions such as rotator cuff tears and various types of arthritis, fractures, etc., as well as injuries caused by throwing movements and among overhead athletes (like pitchers).

Shoulder replacement

The need for shoulder replacement can be caused by various types of arthritis, injuries and fractures to the bones of the shoulder, untreated rotator cuff tears or vascular conditions within the bones. Damaged parts of the shoulder are replaced with artificial replacements.

Shoulder treatments

Shoulder surgical procedures include the following:

Arthroscopic procedures

• Rotator cuff repair:
  • Supraspinatus.
  • Infraspinatus.
  • Subscapularis.
• Rotator cuff repair with allograft augmentation.
• Labral repair:
  • Bankart repair.
  • SLAP repair.
• Loose body removal.
• Subacromial decompression.
• Bankart repair.
• Remplissage procedure.
• Distal clavicle excision.
• Superior capsular reconstruction.
• Biceps tenodesis.
• Capsulorrhaphy.
• Coraco-clavicular ligament reconstruction.

Open shoulder procedures

• Anatomic total shoulder replacement.
• Reverse total shoulder replacement.
• Stemless anatomic shoulder replacement.
• Latarjet procedure for instability.
• Bankart repair.
• Rotator cuff repair.
• Biceps tenodesis.
• Pectoralis major tendon repair.
• Coracoclavicular ligament reconstruction for high grade AC separation.
• Open reduction and fixation of fractures:
  • Clavicle.
  • Humerus.
  • Glenoid.
  • Scapula.
• Cartilage repair (OATS procedure).