Shoulder problems may arise as the result of injury or damage to the soft tissues of the shoulder. These injuries can occur from a single traumatic event or through overuse or underuse of the shoulder itself.

Regardless of the cause, shoulder problems often result in pain, weakness and occasional instability of the shoulder joint. Pain related to shoulder injuries can occur over the shoulder region itself. Shoulder problems often result in pain radiating up the neck as well as down the arm. The most common soft tissue injuries are rotator cuff injuries or labral injuries. Common bony injuries are fractures or dislocations of the bony structures around the shoulder joint. Rotator cuff injuries result in pain that is accompanied by weakness when moving or lifting your arm. Labral tears can also result in shoulder pain as well as instability of the shoulder in the case of a more severe tear.

One final cause of shoulder pain is arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of shoulder arthritis and is often caused by the breakdown of cartilage that occurs years after a shoulder injury. Two other types of shoulder arthritis are inflammatory arthritis, such as Rheumatoid arthritis, and rotator cuff arthropathy. Rotator cuff arthropathy is the result of a long-standing and significant rotator cuff tear.

To provide the most comprehensive care possible, orthopedic shoulder specialists at The Midwest Orthopedic Specialty Hospital are recognized as leaders in the advanced treatment of shoulder conditions. After evaluation of your shoulder and diagnosis of the condition causing the problem, your physician may recommend rest, physical therapy, activity modification, medication, or anti-inflammatory injections. If all of the non-operative methods fail, or if they’re not indicated, surgical intervention is occasionally recommended. Our physicians and staff are highly trained specialists recognized as experts in providing complete surgical care to the shoulder, including minimally invasive arthroscopic rotator cuff and labral repairs, total shoulder replacement, and reverse total shoulder replacement.

• Used when all non-surgical methods fail to provide relief
• Effective for labral repairs, rotator cuff repairs and, occasionally, treating arthritis of
  the shoulder
• Arthroscopy can be less painful, involve fewer complications, require no hospital stay and promote a faster recovery
• Used under general or regional anesthesia, arthroscopy is performed through small one-half inch incisions

• Performed when a patient has an irreparable tear of the rotator cuff, severe arthritis or a previously unsuccessful shoulder replacement
• Involves attaching a metal ball to the body and a plastic socket to the arm
• Procedure restores the patient's deltoid muscle to its original length, repairing its ability to function in the shoulder

• A total replacement may be necessary when a patient suffers from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or rotator cuff tear arthropathy
• Arthritic joint surfaces are replaced with a highly polished metal ball with a stem attached to the arm and a plastic socket attached to the body
• Shoulder joint replacements are available in a variety of sizes to fit the patient's needs

• Conditions can often be treated without surgery
• Treatment methods such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, activity modification and injections are often successful in restoring shoulder function and speeding up recovery from injury

• Arthroscopic Repair: an endoscope is inserted into small incisions, projecting an image onto a screen so the physician is able to repair the tear
• Mini-Open Repair: a small incision, typically 4 to 6 cm, is used to repair micro tears
• Open Surgical Repair: traditional surgical incision is used for large or complex tears