There are a wide range of shoulder surgery procedures available to patients dealing with shoulder pain from an injury or condition. In this article, we are going to briefly describe six common shoulder surgery procedures that we perform.
Capsular Release for Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder is a common cause of shoulder pain in adults that causes pain and stiffness of the shoulder. Initially, frozen shoulder is typically treated with steroid injections and subsequent stretching. If this non-operative treatment fails, then arthroscopic extensive debridement capsular release is performed.
Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery
Rotator cuff repair surgery consists of debriding the damaged tissue and bursa and repairing the tendon back to bone with the arthroscope and suture anchors. The size and complexity of a rotator cuff tear can vary greatly, and the repair is customized to the tear pattern.
Shoulder Instability Surgery
Shoulder instability comes in three major forms:
- Anterior
- Posterior
- Multi-directional (MDI)
Anterior instability is the most common form of instability and usually involves a tear in the anterior-inferior glenoid labrum and capsule off the bony glenoid called a Bankart lesion. Surgical repair usually consists of repairing the Bankart lesion and tightening of the ligaments through an arthroscopic or open approach using suture anchors.
Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Total shoulder replacement surgery is a roughly 2 hour operation that replaces the ball of the shoulder (humeral head) with a metal ball attached to a stem. A plastic socket is placed on the bony socket (glenoid) to allow a smooth articulation of the joint. The surgery can be performed as a Same Day surgery or as a one night stay.
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Reverse shoulder joint replacement is a procedure designed to reconstruct a shoulder with advanced stages of arthritis and loss of motion and function. In a Reverse TSA, the anatomy of the shoulder is reversed. The ball portion of the implant is placed on the bony socket and the socket portion is placed onto the upper end of the humerus. The deltoid muscle is then able to raise the arm using the prosthesis as a fulcrum.
Shoulder Fracture Repair
Most shoulder fracture injuries can be treated with non-operative treatment by utilizing a sling and physical therapy. Displaced or unstable fractures may require open reduction and fixation with a locking plate and screws. The goal of surgery is to restore alignment of the bone with secure fixation so that early range of motion can be initiated.
