Shoulder surgery

If pain and discomfort don’t improve with conservative treatments, then surgery may be the best option for you. We offer all types of traditional open and minimally invasive shoulder surgery, many of which we helped pioneer, including total shoulder replacement and advanced arthroscopy techniques.

Our orthopaedic shoulder surgeons specialize in treating complex shoulder injuries, and are able to perform multiple surgeries at the same time when needed, including bone grafting and muscle or ligament repair. For severe fractures with extensive damage, we work with plastic surgeons to reconstruct soft tissues. In fact, we collaborate with specialists from many disciplines to ensure you get the care and rehabilitation support you need. With locations throughout the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey regions, you can access top-notch shoulder care close to home, often with multiple specialists available in one place.

Some of our surgical offerings include:

Minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques

We recommend an arthroscopic approach to shoulder surgery whenever possible as it may lead to quicker recovery times, less pain and scarring, and improved outcomes. An arthroscope, a thin instrument with a small lens and light, is inserted into a small incision. The structures inside the shoulder joint are made visible, enabling surgeons to repair and remove damaged tissues using tiny instruments. Arthroscopic procedures are used to perform most tendon and ligament reconstructions and some bone grafts and transfers as well.

Shoulder replacement

Depending on your condition and severity, you may need a partial, total, or reverse total shoulder replacement. In a partial shoulder replacement, the ball of the joint is replaced with a metal ball, while in a total shoulder replacement the ball and socket are both replaced with prosthetic parts. With a reverse total shoulder replacement, also known as reverse arthroplasty, the ball and socket are not only both replaced with prosthetics, but their placements are switched as well, allowing the deltoid muscle to move the arm. This procedure is used in cases where the rotator cuff is damaged or doesn’t function properly.

Fracture repair

If the bones are displaced or there's an open fracture (where bone breaks through skin), surgeons will repair damaged ligaments, tendons, and muscles and may use plates, screws, or pins. Improperly healed bones (non-union) or bones that have healed in the wrong position (malunion), may require surgery to remove infection, stabilize the fracture, or stimulate bone growth with a bone graft. Our orthopaedic shoulder surgeons work closely with the Penn Orthoplastic Limb Salvage Center to address the most complex non-union and malunion cases.

Post-surgical rehabilitation and pain management

Your treatment doesn’t end with surgery. We believe in initiating physical therapy as soon as possible following surgery to restore strength and normal movement. We also use a multimodal pain control protocol, meaning you’ll receive medications with different actions that work together to reduce discomfort as well as side effects. We minimize opioid usage by combining physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatory medication, and behavioral and cognitive therapy. Nerve blocks and pain pumps (numbing medicine delivered by injection or tube) are also commonly used in shoulder surgery for continued post-operative relief.