Treatment Options for Shoulder Injuries & Rotator Cuff Tears

Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Conditions of the Shoulder

At Jefferson Orthopedic Clinic, our board-certified shoulder orthopedic specialists treat a wide variety of shoulder conditions and injuries. These treatments allow patients to regain the freedom to move their shoulders without pain or discomfort and eventually return to peak performance as quickly and effectively as possible.

Some of the most common conditions we treat include:

• Broken Collarbone: The clavicle, commonly known as the collarbone, is the bone of the shoulder joint that connects the arm to the rest of the body. Clavicle fractures most frequently occur as a result of trauma from a blow to the shoulder, fall or motor vehicle accident.
  • X-rays will be taken to determine the type and severity of the fracture. Many fractured collarbones can be treated at home through non-surgical treatment such as immobilization and a sling. Healing occurs in 6-8 weeks depending on your age and the severity of your fracture. Patients with severe clavicle fractures may require surgery to repair the bone and allow it to heal properly, using a plate.

• Frozen Shoulder: Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a common condition that causes pain and stiffness in the shoulder as a result of a tightening or thickening of the capsule that protects the structures of the shoulder. Although the specific cause of this condition is not known, it most often occurs after recent immobilization of the joint or as a complication of diabetes. Frozen shoulder most often affects patients between the ages of 40 and 60. X-rays and MRI may be needed for the diagnoses.
  • Treatment for frozen shoulder may include anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids, injection with cortisone and physical therapy. Minimally invasive surgical procedures such as arthroscopy and manipulation, may also be performed with a goal of stretching or releasing the contracted joint capsule. 

• Rotator Cuff Tear: The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that support the shoulder joint and allow for complete movement while keeping the ball of the arm bone in the shoulder socket. These tendons and muscles may become torn or otherwise damaged from injury, overuse, or degeneration with age can lead to pain, weakness and inflammation.
  • Surgery is often needed to treat this serious condition. Rotator cuff repair surgery may be performed arthroscopically or through an open procedure, depending on the type and severity of the condition. Both procedures are performed under general anesthesia as reattach the tendon back to the arm. This is an outpatient surgery and usually requires physical therapy.

• Labral Injury: A labrum is a protective ring of cartilage found in the shoulder that provides stability, cushioning and a full range of motion. A tear in the labrum, known as a labral tear or SLAP tear, is caused by injury or overuse and can lead to pain and “catching” of the joint while moving. 
  • While SLAP tear treatment often involves simply managing pain symptoms and undergoing physical therapy, some cases require arthroscopic labrum tear surgery.

• Shoulder Dislocation: The shoulder is a “ball-and-socket” joint where the “ball” is the rounded top of the arm bone (humerus) and the “socket” is the cup. In most cases, the dislocated shoulder can be manipulated back into place by a doctor in a process known as closed reduction.
  • Shoulders that have dislocated once are more likely to dislocate in the future, and reoccurrence of the dislocation usually requires arthroscopic repair.

• Shoulder Impingement: One of the most common causes of shoulder pain, impingement occurs when the front of the shoulder blade rubs against the rotator cuff as a person lifts his/her arm. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that stabilizes the shoulder and permits lifting and rotating movements. If the rotator cuff weakens or is injured, the bone of the upper arm (humerus) can lift up, pinching the rotator cuff against the shoulder blade. The muscles can then swell further, creating a vicious cycle of pain and weakness that will not improve without intervention. 
  • Treatment usually includes exercise, anti-inflammatories, cortisone injection and occasionally arthroscopic shoulder impingement surgery.

• Arthritis: Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that first targets the lining of joints (synovium).
  • Treatments vary depending on the type of arthritis. Treatment includes use of anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone injection, arthroscopic surgery, physical therapy and possible shoulder replacement surgery.  The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.