We maximize results by personalizing the treatment of shoulder injuries.
Smaller incisions and minimally invasive surgeries help make shoulder injuries easier to recover from and less painful. Among the conditions we treat are rotator cuff injuries, shoulder arthritis, dislocations and complex fractures. We personalize our advanced treatment options to give you the best possible solution for your shoulder injury.
Procedures
Rotator cuff repair
The four muscles and tendons that make up the rotator cuff provide stability to the shoulder joint. When any of them are torn, repair is frequently necessary. During the procedure, the surgeon removes fragments of bone (called bone spurs) that have accumulated in the rotator cuff space, and sews together the edges of the damaged tendon. This procedure is usually done arthroscopically, through small incisions around the shoulder, allowing the patient to go home the same day.
Reverse total shoulder replacement
Patients with very large, irreparable rotator cuff tears and shoulder arthritis often have symptoms of pain as well as very limited shoulder motion due to weakness. These patients do not do well with a traditional total shoulder replacement because although the traditional procedure can eliminate arthritis pain, it will not improve the shoulder motion since the rotator cuff muscles remain torn. In this group of patients, a reverse total shoulder replacement is recommended. This procedure is designed to not only alleviate pain from the arthritis, but to allow the deltoid muscle on the outer aspect of the shoulder to do the work of the torn rotator cuff muscles, thereby improving range of motion of the shoulder.
Total shoulder replacement
Patients with advanced arthritis of the shoulder joint who have failed non-operative treatment may be candidates for a traditional total shoulder replacement. This procedure involves replacing the humeral head or “ball” with a metal prosthesis and resurfacing the glenoid or “cup” with a plastic liner. This eliminates the arthritic pain and relies on the remaining ligaments and rotator cuff muscles for stability and motion.
Rehabilitation and education
As soon as the patient is stable, our physical and occupational therapy team will begin the rehabilitation process. The team instructs patients and their families on the goals of rehabilitation and gives them exercises and guidelines for activity. The team also educates them on how to prepare the home for the patient’s return and explains precautions they should take to avoid reinjuring the shoulder muscles.