The shoulder represents one of the most complex joints of the body.  As with anything complex, there are a host of things that can go wrong with it. It is vulnerable to both acute traumatic injuries as well as wear-and-tear conditions brought on by heavy work or repetitive activities. It also can be afflicted by systemic conditions such as arthritis or osteonecrosis.  The physicians of OrthoCarolina offer more experience than any other physicians in the Southeast in the evaluation and treatment of the entire spectrum of shoulder conditions.

Although the care of some shoulder conditions (fractures, fracture-dislocations, some rotator cuff tears, total shoulder replacement for arthritis) still requires standard surgical incisions, many conditions can be treated with arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique popularized with management of knee conditions. OrthoCarolina now treats many traditional shoulder conditions (rotator cuff pathology, shoulder instability, cartilage (labral) tears, frozen shoulder, calcific tendonitis, impingement syndrome, acromioclavicular (AC) arthritis), almost exclusively through arthroscopic techniques. Arthroscopic surgery enables the surgeon to successfully treat the underlying condition while allowing the patient the benefits of smaller incisions, less pain, less bleeding, less scarring, the option of outpatient surgery, and earlier return to work, sport and recreation.

Total shoulder replacement has achieved the same standards of success as its hip and knee replacements predecessors. It represents a tremendously successful treatment option for patients with severe shoulder pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis and many other complex shoulder conditions. Patients enjoy remarkable alleviation of pain and restoration of shoulder function and, due to many technical advancements (many of which have been researched and developed by surgeons at OrthoCarolina), the implant’s longevity statistically compares to that of hip and knee replacements.

A relatively new shoulder replacement, the reverse shoulder arthroplasty, has shown promise in the treatment of the most severe combinations of shoulder arthritis and rotator cuff deficiency, and is also available through the expert care of OrthoCarolina physicians. 

Among the shoulder conditions treated at OrthoCarolina:

• Athletic shoulder injuries
  • Throwing shoulder injuries
  • Cartilage (labral) tears (i.e. SLAP lesions)
  • "Internal" impingement
  • Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears
  • Biceps tendon pathology
• "Impingement syndrome" and rotator cuff pathology
  • Acromioplasty (aka subacromial decompression)
  • Acromioclavicular (AC) arthritis
  • Bursitis/tendonitis
  • "Partial" rotator cuff tears
  • Rotator cuff tears of all sizes (from small to massive)
• Arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Inflammatory arthritis
  • Post-traumatic arthritis
  • Arthritis associated with severe rotator cuff pathology ("cuff-tear arthropathy")
• Stiff, painful shoulders
  • "Frozen shoulder" or "adhesive capsulitis"
  • Post-traumatic stiffness
  • Inflammatory synovitis
• Traumatic injuries
  • Shoulder dislocation/subluxation (instability)
  • Fractures, dislocations and fracture-dislocations 
    • Operative fixation 
    • Hemiarthroplasty

Patient Education:

• Animated Orthopedic Encyclopedia
  Click here to enter the OrthoCarolina animated orthopedic encyclopedia and learn more about orthopedic terms, conditions and procedures of the elbow, foot & ankle, hand, hip, knee, shoulder and spine.  You can choose to watch animated videos or step-by-step displays to learn about surgical and non-surgical treatments.  Print the information to share or refer to later.
  
• American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
  Click here to find more detailed information about specific body parts and conditions.