Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Tears
Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common injuries to the shoulder. The rotator cuff consists of 4 different tendons. When one of these tendons tears, it is classified as a rotator cuff tear.
Causes
- Acute injury: a fall on an outstretched arm or lifting something heavy
- Long-term wear and tear
Symptoms
- Weakness lifting or rotating your arm
- Pain at rest or at night
- Pain when lifting and lowering your arm
Treatments
Conservative (nonsurgical) Options
- Rest
- Activity Modification: Avoid activities that cause pain.
- Medications: Anti-inflammatory medications reduce pain and swelling.
- Physical Therapy: Specific exercises and stretches will restore movement, strengthen, and improve flexibility and range of motion to the shoulder.
- Injections: Steroid injections like cortisone will reduce inflammation.
Surgical Options
- Arthroscopic repair of the torn tendon.
Labrum/SLAP Tears
Causes
- Direct trauma to the labrum such as landing on the arm or shoulder
- Repetitive trauma like pitching a baseball or spiking a volleyball due to peeling back and tearing of the labrum
Symptoms
- Pain in the shoulder
- Instability of the shoulder
- Locking, grinding, popping
- Decrease in shoulder strength
- Decreased range of motion
Treatments
Conservative (nonsurgical) Options
- Physical therapy if applicable based on severity of the injury.
Surgical Options
- Arthroscopic surgery using strong sutures and suture anchors to repair the torn labrum back down to the glenoid
Shoulder Dislocation
Causes
- Shoulder dislocations can be caused by a traumatic event such as a fall
Symptoms
- Swelling
- Deformity
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Bruising
Treatments
Conservative (nonsurgical) Options
- Closed reduction of the shoulder
- Physical therapy to strengthen the shoulder
Shoulder Separation/AC J
Causes
- Direct fall onto the shoulder
Symptoms
- Pain in the shoulder
- Bump or bulge above the shoulder
Treatments
Conservative (nonsurgical) Options
- Rest
- Ice
- Sling
- Physical therapy
Surgical Options
- Arthroscopic repair of torn ligaments
- Arthroscopic surgery using a strong suture and button to return the clavicle to its proper position
Pec Tendon Repair
Causes
A pectoral tendon tear occurs most often during weight lifting, most commonly when bench pressing.
Symptoms/strong>
Typically a pop will be heard while performing the exercise. Swelling and bruising will occur and your pectoralis major will be deformed.
Treatments
Surgery is typically required to repair the pectoral tendon. An incision is made over the front of the shoulder and a strong suture and button are used to secure the tendon back to the bone.