Shoulder Surgery Specialist

What common problems affect the shoulder?

Due to the complexity of the joint, the shoulder is susceptible to a wide range of injuries and conditions. Dr. Abeles finds that rotator cuff issues and bicep tendonitis are the most common ailments that he sees, typical of a sports medicine practice.

Shoulder problems may be acute, occurring suddenly, such as with a sports injury, or they may develop over a period of time, arising from repetitive motion or poor body mechanics. Some of the more prevalent shoulder issues include:

• Osteoarthritis, usually due to wear and tear
• Rotator cuff tears, often resulting from overhead arm motion in a sport or job
• Rotator cuff tendinitis, also caused by overhead motion; however, some cases appear without an obvious cause
• Superior labrum anterior and posterior tear, which is a tendon problem that results from overhead throwing motion
• Adhesive capsulitis, also called frozen shoulder, which typically has a lifespan of about two years and causes stiffness and pain
• Dislocation, when the upper bone of the arm moves out of the shoulder socket

How are shoulder problems treated?

Specific treatment depends upon what problem causes your pain or loss of mobility. Often, your pain may be due to more that one issue, such as a dislocation accompanied by tissue tears. Some of the common procedures that Dr. Abeles performs include:

• Shoulder arthroscopy, in which a special camera inspects, diagnoses, and repairs problems inside the shoulder
• Endoscopic repair, which is when an arthroscopic session uses small camera-guided surgical instruments to perform a repair
• Rotator cuff repair, typically done to reattach tendons; partial tears may need only trimming or smoothing
• Labral repair, in which tears may be removed or reattached depending on the nature of your injury
• Acromioclavicular (AC) joint repair, common for participants in contact sports who need full reconstruction
• Subacromial decompression to treat shoulder impingement syndrome, which is when bone and tendons rub together

Is surgery the only solution for shoulder issues?

No. In fact, surgery is typically the last resort for treatment of shoulder issues. Dr. Abeles uses conservative treatment for most shoulder problems, turning to surgery only when these produce unsatisfactory results.