Shoulder

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is a cutting-edge solution for chronic shoulder problems like arthritis, tendinitis, and rotator cuff injury. At Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates in Voorhees and Turnersville, New Jersey, top-rated orthopedic surgeons perform arthroscopic shoulder surgery. This minimally invasive technique features very small incisions, which means a faster and easier recovery. Request an appointment online or call either office now.

WHAT IS ARTHROSCOPIC SHOULDER SURGERY?

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is a minimally invasive technique in which your surgeon makes very small incisions to access your shoulder joint. Then, they view your inner joint through a tiny camera while making surgical corrections with special medical instruments.

WHAT SHOULDER PROBLEMS REQUIRE ARTHROSCOPIC SHOULDER SURGERY?

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery varies according to your particular shoulder issues. Some of the many different repairs or changes your doctor can make during this surgery include:

• Rotator cuff repair
• Labrum repair or removal
• Ligament repair
• Loose cartilage removal
• Damaged tissue removal
• Shoulder stabilization
• Cyst removal
• Fracture repair
• Nerve release
• Scar tissue release
• Subacromial decompression for nerve impingement
• Synovectomy to remove inner joint lining

If you have extensive shoulder joint damage, you may need shoulder joint replacement surgery instead of arthroscopic surgery.

AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR ARTHROSCOPIC SHOULDER SURGERY?

You could be a good candidate for arthroscopic shoulder surgery if you have chronic shoulder pain that doesn't respond to nonsurgical treatments, such as physical therapy, medication, and regenerative medicine treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.

Some common reasons for stubborn chronic shoulder pain include sports injuries, chronic overuse, and wear-and-tear over time. You can be a good candidate for arthroscopic shoulder surgery at almost any age.

WHAT IS RECOVERY FROM ARTHROSCOPIC SHOULDER SURGERY LIKE?

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is an outpatient procedure. You’ll spend a few hours in recovery before returning home to rest. Because the incisions are small and the arthroscopic technique is less invasive, recovery may be much faster than you expect.

You need rehabilitation, which includes a form of physical therapy, to recover from arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Rehabilitation increases your strength, flexibility, and range of motion as your shoulder heals from the surgery.

Your recovery timeline varies based on what kind of repairs you had, but most people return to their normal activities within several weeks. More complex arthroscopic procedures can require up to a few months of recovery. But, regardless of recovery time, arthroscopic shoulder surgery recovery is generally faster than with open surgery.

Want to learn more about arthroscopic shoulder surgery? Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates has a long history as a leader in this field along with other minimally invasive procedures. Call the office nearest you or use the online scheduling tool to request an appointment now.

Shoulder pain is often the result of rotator cuff injuries that damage the tendons and muscles supporting your shoulder. If you have rotator cuff pain, the highly experienced Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates team can help from their locations in Voorhees and Turnersville, New Jersey. They offer nonsurgical treatments, including regenerative medicine therapies, as well as minimally invasive surgical options to relieve rotator cuff pain. Call your closest office today or request an appointment online.

WHERE IS THE ROTATOR CUFF?

Your rotator cuff surrounds your shoulder joint. It’s a network of tendons and muscles that secures the humeral head at the top of your arm in its socket.

The tendons in your rotator cuff enable you to move your arm in many different directions. In fact, your shoulder is the most mobile of all your joints.

WHAT CAUSES ROTATOR CUFF PAIN?

Rotator cuff pain is often caused by injuries that tear the tendons and muscles. Partial tears damage the tissues, while complete tears or ruptures pull the tendon away from the bone. There are two ways in which you might damage your rotator cuff:

Acute tears

Acute tears happen suddenly and frequently occur at the same time as shoulder dislocations. Rotator cuff tears can be a result of activities like lifting something heavy without using the correct technique or stretching your arm out as you fall and landing on it.

Degenerative tears

Tendon degeneration takes time and is typically a result of age-related wear-and-tear. You're more at risk of suffering a degenerative tear if you make the same arm movements repeatedly and for long periods. People who row or play tennis and people who work with their arms over their heads are susceptible to degenerative rotator cuff tears.

Aging also reduces your body's ability to repair a damaged rotator cuff because of a reduction in blood supply. You could also develop shoulder impingement, where bone spurs form and irritate the rotator cuff.

WHAT DOES ROTATOR CUFF PAIN FEEL LIKE?

If you suffer a sudden rotator cuff tear, it's likely to be extremely painful and result in an instant loss of shoulder function. Degenerative rotator cuff tears typically cause pain when you're resting or moving your arm, and if you lay on the affected shoulder.

Along with the pain, your arm feels weak when you attempt to lift or rotate it. Some people with rotator cuff tears might not experience severe pain, but the injury always causes a loss of function.

HOW IS ROTATOR CUFF PAIN TREATED?

At Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates, your treatment for rotator cuff pain is likely to begin with conservative measures, such as:

• Rest
• Activity modification
• Wearing a sling
• Physical therapies
• Strengthening exercises
• Steroid injections

If your rotator cuff pain is severe, the injury may be too extensive to heal using nonsurgical means. In that case, Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates performs rotator cuff repair surgery.

If you're affected by rotator cuff pain, call Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates today or request an appointment online.

Rotator cuff injuries in your shoulder are sometimes too severe to heal without surgical intervention. If your rotator cuff problem requires repair, the highly experienced surgeons at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates can help. At their Voorhees and Turnersville locations in New Jersey, they provide minimally invasive rotator cuff repair surgery to relieve shoulder pain. Call your closest office today or request an appointment online.

WHY MIGHT I NEED A ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR?

You might need to undergo rotator cuff repair surgery if you damage the tendons in your rotator cuff so badly they can't heal properly by themselves.

The rotator cuff consists of muscles and tendons that keep your shoulder joint secure and enable you to rotate your arm. In many cases, you can make a recovery from rotator cuff injuries using conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, medication, regenerative medicine injections, and in persistent cases, steroid joint injections.

If your rotator cuff pain persists for more than six months or you're experiencing substantial loss of shoulder function, Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates might suggest rotator cuff repair surgery.

WHAT DOES ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR INVOLVE?

There are several options when performing rotator cuff repair. These include:

• Open repair
• Arthroscopic surgery
• Mini-open repair

The procedure Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates selects for you depends on certain factors, such as your unique anatomy, the nature and extent of the damage, and the quality of your bone and tendon tissues.

You might also be able to have other repairs done at the same time, such as a bicep tendon tear or the removal of bone spurs.

HOW DO THE ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR TECHNIQUES DIFFER?

All three techniques are effective ways to restore function and relieve shoulder pain, and each has advantages in certain circumstances:

Open rotator cuff repair

Open repair involves making a large incision in your shoulder and taking off one of the muscles to provide a clear view of the damaged rotator cuff. Open repair may be necessary for large, complex rotator cuff injuries, to perform acromioplasty (removal of bone spurs), or if you need a tendon transfer.

In most cases, Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates is able to use a less invasive approach.

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

An arthroscope is a long, thin instrument that fits into a very small incision. It has a camera that sends back clear video footage of the surgery site to a monitor for your surgeon to use. They can then perform the surgery using other arthroscopic instruments without having to uncover the rotator cuff.

All-arthroscopic repair is the least invasive rotator cuff repair method.

Mini-open repair

Mini-open repair uses advanced technology to perform your rotator cuff repair through a small incision of 1-2 inches. Using arthroscopy, your surgeon assesses and treats bone spurs and other problems, without needing to detach the shoulder muscle. Next, they perform the rotator cuff repair through the small incision, which provides a direct view of the structures.

For superior results from your rotator cuff repair, call Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates today or request an appointment online.

When you have an injury or severe arthritis that's causing significant shoulder pain and disability, total shoulder replacement might be the only way to get relief. If you require shoulder replacement surgery, the highly experienced surgeons at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates can help. From their Voorhees and Turnersville locations in New Jersey, they perform minimally invasive total shoulder replacement that can resolve your pain and give you back your mobility. To benefit from their expertise, call your closest office today or request an appointment online.

WHY MIGHT I NEED A TOTAL SHOULDER REPLACEMENT?

You might need a total shoulder replacement if you have chronic shoulder pain, loss of use, or joint damage, and there are no suitable alternatives.

Your shoulder joint is highly versatile and very flexible, but because it has such an extensive range of motion, it's also vulnerable to damage. As well as shoulder pain, you might suffer from:

• Stiffness
• Limited mobility
• An inability to reach overhead
• Difficulty sleeping

You might also experience popping sensations or a grinding feeling in the joint. If the pain is severe, you may be unable to use your arm or hand at all. Replacing the damaged shoulder joint with new components can restore function and relieve pain.

WHAT CONDITIONS ARE MOST LIKELY TO REQUIRE TOTAL SHOULDER REPLACEMENT?

Total shoulder replacement is most often a solution for severe osteoarthritis. This wear-and-tear disorder can develop at any age but typically affects the over-50s. You also have a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis if you've led a very active life or you've suffered a previous shoulder injury.

Other conditions that could lead to the need for a shoulder replacement include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Rotator cuff tear arthropathy
• Avascular necrosis (bone death)
• Severe fractures
• Failed previous shoulder replacement surgery

Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates usually treats shoulder pain using conservative methods at first. These include physical therapy, medication, steroid injections, and regenerative medicine techniques. If these treatments aren't successful after several months, it might be time to look at a total shoulder replacement.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A TOTAL SHOULDER REPLACEMENT OPERATION?

Your total shoulder replacement surgery involves taking off the bone that's beyond repair and fitting artificial replicas.

Your shoulder joint consists of two parts – the humeral head, which is the ball-shaped bone at the top of your arm, and the socket or glenoid into which it fits, which is part of your shoulder blade.

To perform total shoulder replacement, your surgeon at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates removes the humeral head and socket down to healthy bone. They then position the artificial joint components, securing them with bone cement or press-fitting them into place.

WHAT ALTERNATIVES ARE THERE TO TOTAL SHOULDER REPLACEMENT?

Sometimes it's possible to save part of your shoulder joint so you only have one artificial component. This is known as hemiarthroplasty.

If you have shoulder instability or severe rotator cuff damage, you might need a reverse total shoulder replacement. In this procedure, your surgeon swaps the position of the humeral head and socket to improve stability.

For more information on total shoulder replacement and help with your shoulder pain, call Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates today or request an appointment online.

Due to the complexity of the joint, the shoulder often experiences pain and dysfunction. If you’ve been searching for help with your shoulder pain, look no further than Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates in Voorhees and Turnersville, New Jersey. The dedicated team will design a treatment plan to put shoulder pain behind you. 

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SHOULDER PAIN?

Your shoulder is a complex structure made up of bone, tendons, and cartilage that you rely on daily. But injuries, overuse, and other conditions can bring about shoulder pain.

While shoulder pain isn’t the same for everyone, you may experience one or more of these symptoms:

• Pain when you move your shoulder
• Inability to raise your arm overhead
• Weakness of your shoulder muscles

You might also feel pain at night, particularly when you’re lying on the shoulder that’s giving you trouble.

WHAT CAUSES SHOULDER PAIN?

Your shoulder can feel painful for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common causes:

Shoulder arthritis

Over time, wear and tear to the cartilage in your shoulder can lead to arthritis. Shoulder arthritis is most common after you turn 50, but also may happen earlier if you incur an injury or trauma to your shoulder.

Tendinitis

This condition occurs with the inflammation of the thick cords connecting your muscles and shoulder. Typically caused by repeated motions, it generally feels like a dull ache.

Rotator cuff injury

Your rotator cuff is made up of four tendons surrounding the ball of your shoulder. Tendinitis or tears in the rotator cuff from sports-related injuries can bring on shoulder pain.

Frozen shoulder

This affects the inner lining of your shoulder, making it inflamed, tight, and painful. As the name suggests, you lose movement of your shoulder.

Dislocated shoulder

Commonly caused by a fall or sports injury, a dislocated shoulder often tears the soft tissues around your shoulder, causing pain. This injury can damage your bones as well.

Bursitis

This is a painful inflammation of the small fluid-filled sacs cushioning the joints, tendons, and muscles at your joints.

Other health problems, such as fractures and autoimmune conditions, can cause shoulder pain as well.

HOW IS SHOULDER PAIN TREATED?

Your treatment plan depends on the cause of your shoulder pain. Generally, the team at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates begins by recommending lifestyle changes, rest, medications, or physical therapy. In certain cases, arthroscopic surgery, rotator cuff repair, or joint replacement surgery can help to ease your shoulder pain so you can enjoy the activities you love again.

If you’ve tried without luck to treat your shoulder pain at home, and you’re looking for expert care, call or request a consultation online today with Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates.