The shoulder is
classified as a ball and socket joint. It is the most mobile joint in
your body, and it is made up of the humerus, which articulates with the
glenoid of the scapula. Shoulder stability relies mainly on soft tissue
restraints, which consist of the rotator cuff, the glenoid labrum, and
the capsule. The rotator cuff is a sleeve of four muscles which contribute
to shoulder strength and stability. The labrum is a rim of cartilage that
helps to stabilize the joint and is frequently injured in shoulder dislocations.
The capsule is an envelope filled with fluid that assists in joint stability
as well. Finally, there are bursa which surround the shoulder joint and
these fluid filled sacs cushion the tendons from the bone. The bursa are
a very common source of shoulder pain.
Much more information
is available at
www.AustinShoulder.com
COMMON SHOULDER PROBLEMS
Shoulder
Impingement is caused by inflammation of the rotator cuff and bursa.
Pain occurs when raising the patient's arm above his/her head. This
frequently can be a precursor to a rotator
cuff tear.
Recurrent Shoulder
Dislocation frequently is caused by a tear in the labrum or excess
laxity in the joint's capsule.
Painful Instability occurs when a shoulder is forced beyond the joint's
normal range of motion causing the ball to move abnormally in the socket.
Shoulder
Arthritis may be caused by long-term wear and tear, infections, injuries
or a variety of other diseases. It is characterized by roughened joint
surfaces with worn cartilage. Fragmentation of bone and cartilage is also
known as loose bodies.
COMMON SHOULDER SURGERIES
Arthroscopy: allows the surgeon to look inside the shoulder
joint using small incisions and identify the problems. The surgeon may
often be able to correct the problem using this procedure by removing
loose unwanted tissue from the joint, with fewer disturbances to the joint.
Recovery time is usually short.
Bankart procedure: an operation that tightens ligaments
and repairs torn capsular detachments, restoring shoulder stability. It
is often performed for athletes involved in throwing sports who suffer
from recurrent dislocations and subluxations. It allows the patient to
return to contact sports such as baseball, football, wrestling, and ice
hockey because the muscles and tendons are returned to their anatomic
locations.
Rotator cuff repair: a procedure that is performed to repair
the tear, therefore, relieving the patient's pain and improving function
of muscles and tendons that move the joint. The surgery is commonly performed
on older patients who complain of pain and weakness in the deltoid region
that occurs with normal daily activities as well as work and sport. The
surgery can frequently be done with an arthroscope through minimal incisions.
Prosthetic shoulder replacement: a procedure involving replacement
of the head of the humerus or "ball" (hemiarthroplasty)
or in some cases the resurfacing of the "socket" or glenoid
as well (total shoulder replacement). This surgery is sometimes
performed for patients with arthritis in the shoulder joint because it
provides pain relief, which is the major indication for the procedure.
Improvement of function may result but is less predictable.
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