Shoulder Surgery Specialist

Why might I need shoulder surgery?

You might need shoulder surgery if there are no alternatives to resolving significant pain or loss of function in the joint.

Your shoulder consists of three bones, two of which form a ball and socket, with a complex network of muscles and connective tissues (the rotator cuff) plus cartilage, nerves, and blood vessels. If anything damages these structures, you might experience shoulder pain and limited use of the joint. 

Patients with shoulder problems can benefit from the range of conservative therapies available at Samimi Orthopedic Group, which includes:

• Rest and activity modification
• Physical therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medication
• Steroid joint injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

If these treatments don’t have the desired effect, or you suffer from a condition where the damaged structures can't heal themselves, shoulder surgery might be the best option.

What conditions can shoulder surgery treat?

Some of the conditions that might benefit from shoulder surgery include:

• Rotator cuff tears
• Shoulder impingement
• Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
• Shoulder separation
• Labral tears
• Shoulder dislocation
• Fractures
• Cuff tear arthropathy
• Joint instability
• Tendonitis
• SLAP (superior labrum from anterior to posterior) tears
• Arthritis
• Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries

Shoulder surgery aims to repair the injured structures within the joint, restore stability, and improve strength and range of motion.

What kind of shoulder surgery might I need?

The shoulder surgery you need varies depending on the cause and extent of the damage. Shoulder surgeries Dr. Samimi performs regularly include:

Soft tissue repairs

Sometimes damaged or torn soft tissues need a straightforward repair with stitches. More severe or complex injuries might require additional steps, for example, reattaching a ruptured tendon to the bone using suture anchors. Rotator cuff and SLAP tears might need this kind of surgery.

Shoulder replacement

Shoulder replacement offers a solution to conditions like advanced arthritis where the joint has suffered too much damage to be repairable. In this case, Dr. Samimi removes the diseased areas from your upper arm bone and shoulder socket and replaces them with a prosthesis.

How is shoulder surgery performed?

Shoulder surgery might consist of one or a combination of techniques:

Open surgery

Open surgery involves making large incisions that expose the shoulder joint. This method causes a great deal of tissue damage, so Dr. Samimi avoids it unless it's the best option for you.

Minimally invasive surgery

Minimally invasive shoulder surgery uses an arthroscope — an instrument that fits through a small incision and sends back a video feed from the camera at its tip. Dr. Samimi uses the images on his monitor to guide the use of other arthroscopic instruments in completing your shoulder surgery.

To find out more about shoulder surgery and how you can benefit from Dr. Samimi's expertise, call Samimi Orthopedic Group. Schedule a consultation by phone or book an appointment online today.