Shoulder Conditions

Many disorders can afflict shoulders. Common shoulder conditions include:

• Rotator cuff tear

• Dislocation

• Tendonitis

• Sprain/Strain

• Arthritis

The shoulder has more motion than any other joint in the human body. But this increased flexibility comes at the expense of joint stability. Consequently, out of all the major joints, the shoulder is the one most prone to suffer a dislocation.

There are actually 4 articulations that together allow for normal shoulder function. The main shoulder joint (called the gleno-humeral joint) can be described as a ball articulating with a saucer. Its stability depends primarily on ligaments connecting the bones, and secondarily on stabilizing muscles such as the rotator cuff. Stability afforded by the muscles can be improved with physical therapy exercises, provided the muscles are structurally intact and functional. However, ligamentous stability can only be improved through surgery. Depending upon the situation, this can be by traditional open surgery, or via arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic surgery involves using a telescope, approximately the diameter of a pencil, inserted into the joint through small incisions, as depicted in the drawing. Regardless of the surgical approach, most shoulder procedures are performed on an outpatient basis.

Determining the cause of shoulder symptoms usually involves, among other things, physical examination and imaging studies (X-rays, MRI, etc.).