The shoulder has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the human body. While that range makes it incredibly useful, it can also make it unstable, thus increasing the likelihood of injury. If you experience persistent shoulder pain and/or a limited range of motion, you might want to consider possible shoulder injury treatment options.
There are a number of safe and effective shoulder injury treatment procedures – including shoulder arthroscopy – that can reduce and even eliminate discomfort/pain in your shoulder joint. The expert team at the Shoulder Surgery Center of Excellence specializes in minimally invasive treatments that can ensure speedy recoveries. Our Los Angeles shoulder surgeons understand that surgery can be daunting, so we have created a brief overview of three very common shoulder injuries and possible treatments to better inform you, the patient.
Shoulder Dislocations
Shoulder dislocation occurs when the humerus (upper arm bone) separates from the scapula (shoulder blade). Almost half of all major joint dislocations seen in emergency rooms involve the shoulder. Our surgeons are experts in arthroscopic surgery, a method involving small incisions to enter the shoulder with a small video monitor to inspect or repair existing joint damage. This procedure has a relatively low recovery time and is used to tighten and strengthen the shoulder in a variety of ways in order to prevent future dislocations.
Separated Shoulders
Although commonly confused with shoulder dislocation, a separated shoulder or AC joint separation involves the separation of the scapula (shoulder blade) and the clavicle (collar bone). This injury usually occurs when the hand is outstretched or when downward force is applied to the shoulder. The Weaver-Dunn treatment is an effective procedure to fix severe separations. It involves detaching, tightening, and/or reattaching ligaments within the shoulder in order to ensure stability. This is commonly done arthroscopically in order to minimize recovery time.
Rotator Cuff Damage
A rotator cuff injury is sustained when one of the four rotator cuff muscles or tendons sustain damage, which ranges from mild irritation to full tears. As a whole, the rotator cuff is responsible for overall shoulder joint stabilization and general external rotation. If physical therapy does not properly address the pain and reduced range of motion within six to eight weeks, surgery is usually the next option. Surgery can be used to repair tearing and, in more severe cases, reattach tendons and muscles. Three common procedures are arthroscopic, mini open, and open surgical repair. Both mini open and open surgical repair involve varying degrees of open incisions into the shoulder. Over the years, arthroscopic procedures have improved to the point that they just as, if not more, effective than the open surgical procedures. However, depending on the extent of the injury, arthroscopic surgery may be combined with mini open procedures to ensure a high level of effectiveness.
Find Out About Our Shoulder Injury Treatment
La Peer Health Systems boasts an expert team of highly skilled surgeons who provide you with the highest quality care possible. Although surgery may not be right for every injury, it may be ideal for your shoulder injury treatment. Please contact our newly remodeled Beverly Hills office at (888) 847-0357 for more information or to make an appointment with a shoulder specialist today.
