Shoulder Procedures

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical procedure performed for joint problems. Shoulder arthroscopy is performed using a pencil-sized instrument called an arthroscope. The arthroscope consists of a light system and camera that projects images of the surgical site onto a computer screen for your surgeon to clearly view.

Rotator cuff repair is a surgery to repair an injured or torn rotator cuff. It is usually performed arthroscopically on an outpatient basis. An arthroscope, a small, fiber-optic instrument consisting of a lens, light source, and video camera. The camera projects images of the inside of the joint onto a large monitor, allowing your doctor to look for any damage, assess the type of injury and repair it. Large rotator cuff tears may require open surgery.

A SLAP repair is an arthroscopic shoulder procedure to treat a specific type of injury to the labrum called a SLAP tear.

The labrum can sometimes tear during a shoulder injury. A specific type of labral tear that occurs when the shoulder dislocates is called a Bankart tear. This is a tear to a part of the labrum called the inferior glenohumeral ligament and is common in the young who sustain a dislocation of the shoulder. A Bankart tear makes the shoulder prone to repeat dislocation in patients under 30 years of age.

A frozen shoulder, also called “adhesive capsulitis”, is a painful condition in which the shoulder becomes stiff and inflamed resulting in limited movement of the joint. The condition occurs when the strong connective tissue surrounding the shoulder joint (called the shoulder capsule) becomes thick, tight, and inflamed. This leads to scarring of the capsule making the shoulder bones unable to move freely within the joint. Over time, the shoulder may become hard to move.

Shoulder reconstruction surgery is an operative procedure in which stretched or torn soft-tissue structures that surround the shoulder joint such as the capsule, ligaments, and cartilage, are repaired to secure the shoulder joint in place. The procedure is mainly employed for the treatment of individuals with shoulder instability, to prevent recurrent joint dislocations, and to restore normal shoulder range of motion and function.

If conservative treatments such as immobilization, prescription medicines, physical therapy, closed reduction or manipulation and occupational therapy fail to relieve the shoulder instability, your surgeon may recommend reconstruction surgery.

During arthroscopic surgery for SLAP tears, your surgeon examines the labrum and the biceps tendon. If the damage is confined to the labrum without involving the tendon, then the torn flap of the labrum will be removed. In cases where the tendon is also involved or if there is the detachment of the tendon, absorbable wires or sutures will be used to repair and reattach the tendon.

When conservative treatment options such as medications, rest and ice application fail to relieve shoulder instability, your surgeon may recommend shoulder stabilization surgery.

A capsular release of the shoulder is surgery performed to release a tight and stiff shoulder capsule, a condition called frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis. The procedure is usually performed arthroscopically through keyhole-size incisions.

Distal clavicle excision is a procedure which involves removal of the outer end of the clavicle (collarbone) to treat shoulder pain and disability due to arthritis or impingement.

Shoulder preservation surgery is any surgical procedure that is aimed at preserving the structure and function of the shoulder. It may be a good option when non-surgical treatments fail to relieve shoulder symptoms as it is less invasive than shoulder joint replacement surgery.

The shoulder is prone to different kinds of injuries and inflammatory conditions. An intraarticular shoulder injection is a minimally invasive procedure to treat pain and improve shoulder movement. It may be performed with the help of ultrasound or fluoroscopic imaging which allows your physician to precisely target the intraarticular space.

Proximal biceps tenodesis is the surgical reattachment of a torn proximal biceps tendon, which connects the upper part of your biceps muscle to the shoulder.