Shoulder

A rotator cuff tear occurs when the muscles and tendons around the ball and socket joint of your shoulder are injured. These muscles and tendons help to raise and rotate your arm. Rotator cuff tears can occur with or without an injury to the shoulder.

Shoulder arthritis (Glenohumeral Arthritis) occurs when the cartilage covering the ends of the bone in the shoulder joint wear away. This loss of cartilage can occur due to use, injury, illness or infection. Once the cartilage is lost or damaged the joint becomes rough and painful.

A dislocation or instability of the shoulder occurs when the ball of the shoulder (humerus) dislocates from the socket (glenoid). Many times, the events are associated with an injury. Some individuals are able to reduce the shoulder back into joint, but most individuals require the shoulder be put back in place in an emergency room. In some cases, the shoulder continues to be unstable and continues to dislocate. This leads to repeated shoulder dislocations or repeated shoulder instability.

Tears of the superior labrum are often referred to as SLAP tears. This represents an injury to the tissue at the top of the glenoid (shoulder socket) at the area where the long head of the bicep’s tendon attaches.

A shoulder separation is an injury to the AC Joint and the coracoclavicular ligaments. This results in the separation of the clavicle (collar bone) and the scapula. An AC Joint separation is distinctly different from a shoulder dislocation because an AC Joint separation does not mean the ball and socket dislocated. These injuries typically occur after trauma to the shoulder, most often from a direct impact to the top or side of the shoulder.

A fracture or break of the shoulder bone (proximal humerus) often occurs with an injury. This can represent a fracture of the ball and/or socket of the shoulder joint.

A fracture or break of the Clavicle Bone (collar bone) often occurs with an injury. This represents an injury to the bone that connects the shoulder to the chest.

A Pectoralis Tear is an injury to the tendon of the Pectoralis major tendon. This tendon attaches the muscles in the front of the chest to the arm.

A Superior Capsule Reconstruction is an advanced surgical technique utilized for a patient who has a rotator cuff that cannot be repaired.

Shoulder Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that represents a major advancement in the treatment of many injuries to the shoulder.