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Minimally Invasive Arthroscopy
When Shoulder Instability Is Holding You Back
Christopher Smith, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon
Don’t let the Peyton Manning or Kevin Garnett in you be denied. Manning, NFL quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, and Garnett, NBA center for the Boston Celtics, represent athletes who rely on their shoulder strength to perform at the top of their respective games. If an old (or new) football or basketball shoulder injury has you ready to throw in the towel, don't give up. Minimally invasive procedures are available to help repair and improve shoulder instability.
What Is Shoulder Instability?
"Shoulder instability is a condition in which the shoulder joint has recurring episodes of coming in and out of its socket," says Christopher Smith, M.D., board certified orthopedic surgeon at Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas. "Often, these occurrences are painful and restrict daily activities for the person suffering from the instability."
The shoulder joint is one of the body's most versatile joints, comprised of a ball or humeral head, and a socket or the glenoid. A rim of soft fibrous tissue called the labrum surrounds the socket and helps stabilize the shoulder joint. This area also acts as an attachment location for multiple ligaments. Shoulder instability can occur from naturally loose ligaments or from a
tear in the tissue or ligaments as a result of a traumatic injury.
Symptoms of a tear in the shoulder socket rim may include:
- Pain, often with reaching or overhead activities
- Catching, locking or popping of the shoulder
- Restricted range of motion
- Loss of physical strength
Diagnosing the Condition
"If you suffer from reoccurring shoulder pain or have recently experienced an injury to your shoulder, we can evaluate your symptoms and conduct physical tests to check range of motion, stability and pain levels," says Dr. Smith. "X-rays are usually taken to see if there are any other reasons behind the pain."
Since the rim of the shoulder socket is soft tissue, additional diagnostics are necessary to detect tears. A computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) given with a contrast dye injection is used to find tears.
Treatment and Rehabilitation Options
Nontraumatic shoulder instability often responds well to strengthening exercises in physical therapy. "If signs of improvement don’t appear after several weeks of therapy, we may recommend arthroscopic surgery – surgery done with an arthroscope to repair tendons," says Dr. Smith.
Recent technological advancements have resulted in minimally invasive treatments for shoulder instability. Arthroscopically positioned stitches are now used to repair torn tissues. This procedure also helps to tighten the shoulder joint and ligaments. The arthroscopic procedure is less painful than traditional surgery and has a faster recovery period. Patients may also have an improved range of motion following rehabilitation.
Throwing the Perfect Pass
To learn more about minimally invasive shoulder stabilization procedures and physical rehabilitation options available at Methodist Orthopaedic Specialists of Texas, call 866-567-4130.
Common Shoulder Injuries to Avoid
Acute trauma to the shoulder may result in damage to the tissue surrounding the socket. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons identifies the following as causes of potentially traumatic shoulder injuries:
- Falling on an extended arm
- A direct strike to the shoulder
- A sudden pull when lifting a heavy object
- An aggressive overhead reach
A full or partial shoulder dislocation, as well as tears of the glenoid rim, can occur. In addition, repetitive shoulder motions can also result in a glenoid labrum tear. This is often seen in throwing athletes and weightlifters.