Shoulder Surgery

What is shoulder surgery?

Shoulder surgery treats injured shoulders by repairing damaged muscles, connective tissue or joints that occur from a traumatic injury or from where the shoulder has been overused. The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the body, allowing the arm to be positioned and rotated in many positions in front of, over, to the side and behind the body. This degree of motion makes the shoulder susceptible to injury.

The shoulder is the most flexible joint in the body.

Shoulder problems that require surgery

  • Bursitis or tendonitis: The rotator cuff can cause pain in many different ways, such as tendonitis, bursitis or mechanical impingement. This is due to repetitive activities such as swimming or lifting weights. Repetition causes rubbing or compression of the rotator cuff under the acromion and at the acromioclavicular joint.
  • Impingement: This occurs when the top of the shoulder blade puts pressure on the underlying soft tissues when the arm is lifted away from the body. Symptoms of impingement include difficulty reaching behind the back, pain when using the arm over the head, and weakness in the shoulder muscles.
  • Full-thickness rotator cuff tears: Full-thickness rotator cuff tears are often the result of shoulder impingement, partial rotator cuff tears or can occur with heavy lifting and falling. Rotator cuff tears may involve the full thickness of the tendon or may be incomplete, known as partial thickness. Rotator cuff surgery and rehabilitation allows patients to regain lost function in shoulders with cuff disease.
  • Instability: One of the shoulder joints is forced out of its normal position. This condition can result in dislocation of the shoulder. Patients will experience pain when they raise an arm and may also feel like their shoulder is out of place.
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Diagnosis of a shoulder injury

The trauma specialist will analyze the patient’s medical history and then examine the shoulder. This will check for tenderness in any area and for deformity. The strength of the arm will also be tested and the arm will be moved in different directions. Other tests that help with the diagnosis are imaging tests, x-rays and MRIs.

Non-surgical treatment of shoulder injuries

An orthopedic surgeon will explain certain exercises that are aimed at strengthening the shoulder muscles, which will include wall bends and shoulder flexions. Anti-inflammatory medications may also be prescribed.

Surgical treatment of shoulder injuries

  • Arthroscopic repair: This allows the surgeon to insert a thin device with a small lens into tiny incisions to see inside the joint. The images are transmitted to a television screen, allowing the doctor to guide and make a diagnosis.
  • Open repair: In some cases, open repair surgery is necessary. It is performed through small incisions, which are only a few centimeters long and need to be made if the tear is large. It is a good option if the tear is complex or if additional reconstruction, such as tendon transfer, needs to be performed.