NSMC orthopedic surgeons are dedicated to the care of shoulder injury and disease. Our orthopedic surgeons who treat disorders of the shoulder have advanced fellowship training in all aspects of shoulder surgery. Their fellowship training provides them with world class expertise in the most advanced treatments for shoulder problems.
The shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body, and as a result it is the most vulnerable joint to injury. A variety of mechanisms may cause shoulder problems including traumatic injury, overuse syndromes or degenerative processes. Some of the common shoulder conditions treated by NSMC orthopedic surgeons include:
- Bursitis
- Rotator cuff tendonitis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Shoulder separation
- Shoulder instability
- Arthritis
- Frozen shoulder
- Fractures
NSMC offers advanced imaging technology such as MRI, CT scan, and nuclear medicine to aid in the accurate diagnosis of shoulder conditions. The key to a patient's successful outcome is matching their pathology to the correct treatment needs. At NSMC, our physicians combine proficient clinical skills with the best available technology to achieve this goal.
In addition to providing non-operative treatment for many conditions of the shoulder, our orthopedic surgeons perform a full range of surgical procedures for shoulder problems ranging from
minimally-invasive arthroscopic techniques to major reconstructive procedures. The surgical procedures most commonly done for shoulder problems at NSMC include:
- Arthroscopic subacromial decompression
- Arthroscopic capsular repair or reconstruction
- Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
- Arthroscopic labral repair
- Arthroscopic frozen shoulder release
- Total shoulder arthroplasty (shoulder replacement)
- Constrained shoulder arthroplasty (Reverse or Delta shoulder replacement)
FAQs
Which shoulder surgery procedures are done on an outpatient basis and which require hospitalization?Most shoulder surgeries today are done as an outpatient. These include the arthroscopic surgeries such as labral repair, rotator cuff repair, capsulorrhaphy as well as some open procedures which are done through small or mini incisions. The shoulder replacement procedures generally require a hospital stay of one to two days. We are able to do more procedures as an outpatient these days due to advancements in regional anesthesia and the use of minimally invasive techniques.
What is bursitis or rotator cuff tendonitis?
Both terms are used to describe shoulder pain related to inflammation of the rotator cuff or bursa that manifests itself as pain over the upper arm that is made worse with overhead activity, reaching to the side, or reaching behind your back. There may be associated decreased range of motion and weakness as well. It may be the result of an injury or overuse. In the majority of cases, this condition will improve with non-operative means such as anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, or cortisone injections. In some cases, artroscopy to remove bone spurs or to “clean up” the inflammation may be needed to treat those people who do not respond to conservative treatment.
What is subacromial impingement?
Subacromial impingement describes the condition of pinching of the rotator cuff with raisng ones arm to the side with the secondary development of bursitis and/or rotator cuff tendonitis. Repeated episodes of impingement may lead to a rotator cuff tear. The treatment is the same as for rotator cuff tendonitis or bursitis. Unless there is a large bone spur on the undersurface of the acromion, treatment initially is conservative but if conservative treatment fails, operative treatment may be needed. The operative treatment is the same as for rotator cuff tendonitis or bursitis. Removal of a bone spur can increase the size of the subacromial space and as a result when one lifts there arm to the side the rotator cuff is no longer pinched.
What is frozen shoulder?
Frozen shoulder is also known as adhesive capsulitis and it refers to decreased shoulder range of motion due to tightening of the ligaments of the shoulder. It can be related to an underlying condition (secondary) such as rotator cuff tear, tendonitis, etc that limits a persons shoulder range of motion due to pain or it may occur for unknown reasons (idiopathic). Treatment for both conditions starts with range of motion exercises with stretching. For the secondary adhesive capsulitis, treatment of the underlying condition is necessary as well. If the range of motion does not improve, a shoulder manipulation or arthroscopic capsular release may be performed to restore the range of motion. The arthroscopic release has the added benefit of also addressing the underlying condition in the case of secondary adhesive capsulitis.
