Health Articles

Each of the following health articles was authored by one of our expert orthopedic doctors at Orthopedic Associates. Please use the Learn More button to read the article in full.

Total Shoulder Replacement

This surgery replaces the damaged or diseased head of the humerus (also called the ball) and cartilage from the shoulder joint with a metal and plastic joint.

Suprascapular Nerve Block (Fluoroscopically Guided)

This outpatient procedure is used to treat pain and discomfort from arthritis, bursitis or impingement of the suprascapular nerve in the shoulder joint. The suprascapular nerve is a major motor nerve that serves the muscles of the shoulder.

Subacromial Injection

This injection goes into your shoulder. It can help reduce your shoulder pain. We use it to treat many conditions. It's used for adhesive capsulitis, rotator cuff tendinosis and impingement syndrome.

Subacromial Decompression

This surgery treats subacromial impingement. That's a pain you feel when you raise your arm.

SLAP Repair

This arthroscopic procedure is performed to repair a tear of the biceps tendon at the point where it connects to the labrum, a ring of cartilage that surrounds the shoulder socket.

Shoulder Resurfacing

This surgery replaces the damaged or diseased part of the humerus head (also known as the ball) with a metal implant.

Rotator Cuff Repair (Mini-Open, Supraspinatus Tendon-to-Bone Insertion)

This surgical procedure is used to repair a torn supraspinatus tendon, one of the tendons that forms the rotator cuff of the shoulder. During this procedure, the tendon is reattached firmly to the head of the humerus.

Rotator Cuff Repair (Arthroscopic)

This surgery repairs a tear of the rotator cuff in your shoulder. The rotator cuff is group of muscles and tendons. It holds the head of the humerus in the shoulder socket.

Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement

During this procedure, the surgeon replaces a damaged shoulder joint with artificial components that reverse the structure of the shoulder. This procedure is most often used for patients who have had a failed total shoulder replacement.

ORIF Surgery for Proximal Humerus Fracture

This surgical procedure repairs a break in the proximal end of the humerus. ORIF stands for Open Reduction Internal Fixation.

Mini-Open Rotator Cuff Repair

This surgical procedure is used to inspect and reattach torn tendons in the shoulder's rotator cuff. The initial part of the surgery is performed arthroscopically through small tubes. An open incision may be needed if the damage is severe.

Joint Injection (Therapeutic, Shoulder)

This outpatient injection procedure relieves pain in the shoulder and arm caused by arthritis, injury or disorder.

Intracapsular (Glenoid) Injection

During this procedure, a mixture of anesthesia and anti-inflammatory medication is injected into the space between the head of the humerus and the glenoid.

HemiCap® Resurfacing

This procedure uses a small, metal, cap-like implant to cover damaged or missing articular cartilage in the shoulder joint. Articular cartilage covers the joint surfaces of bones, allowing them to glide smoothly against each other.

Glenohumeral Debridement

This minimally-invasive procedure is used to remove tissue in the shoulder joint that has been damaged from arthritis, overuse or injury.

Distal Clavicle Excision (Resection, Arthroscopic Technique)

During this minimally-invasive procedure, the surgeon removes the end of the clavicle at the acromioclavicular joint in the shoulder. Removing this portion of bone will decompress the joint.

Diagnostic Arthroscopy (Shoulder)

This outpatient procedure is a minimally-invasive surgical technique commonly used to identify problems in the shoulder joint. It is performed with the aid of a specialized camera called an arthroscope.

Biceps Tenodesis

This surgery repairs a biceps tendon in your shoulder. It fixes a tendon that is partially torn, or completely torn, from the bone.

Bankart Repair

If you have a painful shoulder, you may have a torn labrum. That's a tear of the thick band of tissue around your shoulder socket. A torn labrum can be fixed with a procedure called a "Bankart repair."

Arthroscopic Capsular Release

This minimally-invasive surgery is used to help relieve pain and loss of mobility in the shoulder from adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). A radiofrequency (RF) probe is inserted into the shoulder.