What you should know about your shoulder surgery

Shoulder surgery can be the solution to all sorts of shoulder problems related to the surrounding muscles, known as the rotator cuff, or the shoulder joint itself.  Appropriate shoulder pain treatment such as shoulder surgery is usually determined following assessment by an orthopedic surgeon. That assessment will include a detailed medical history, a thorough physical examination, and investigations such as X-rays and ultrasound. 

Your shoulder has a wide range of possible movements, making it the most flexible joint in your body. However, arthritis, frozen shoulder, and rotator cuff tears can have a massive impact on that range of movement, either because of pain, or obstruction of movement, or a combination of both. 

 The ideal procedure for the treatment of rotator cuff tears depends on the extent of your injury and where it is located on your shoulder. Rotator cuff tears may be surgically treated by a form of keyhole surgery known as arthroscopy. Another option is the open repair, in which the surgeon detaches the large deltoid muscle over the shoulder in order to get better access to the rotator cuff.  

 Frozen shoulder occurs when the tissue surrounding the shoulder joint becomes stiff, due to adhesions. Shoulder surgery for frozen shoulder may also be carried out by arthroscopy and entails the surgeon cutting through the adhesions that are found there. This procedure will also give the surgeon an opportunity to check for other problems such as bone spurs.

Preparing for Surgery

• No food or drink after midnight before surgery.
• Discuss with your doctor what to do about medications taken in the morning.
• An hour before surgery, you will be assessed in the preoperative area by a nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist.

Prevention of Future Problems

It is important that you continue a shoulder exercise program with daily stretching and strengthening. In general, patients who faithfully comply with the therapies and exercises prescribed by their orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist will have the best medical outcome after surgery.

Your orthopedic surgeon is a medical doctor with extensive training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical and surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.

Prevention of Future Problems

It is important that you continue a shoulder exercise program with daily stretching and strengthening. In general, patients who faithfully comply with the therapies and exercises prescribed by their orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist will have the best medical outcome after surgery.

Your orthopedic surgeon is a medical doctor with extensive training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical and surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.

Surgical repair for shoulder disorders varies in technique and scope depending on the specific diagnosis or each patient. Minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery may work best, or extensive open surgical procedures may be favored

Shoulder Replacement May Ease Pain

Originally designed as a treatment for fractured shoulder, shoulder joint replacement surgery also can provide effective solutions for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, rotator cuff arthroplasty, osteonecrosis, and other shoulder conditions. More than 50,000 people annually undergo shoulder replacement surgery in the United States.

Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201  Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119