Shoulder instability describes a condition in which your shoulder tends to slip out of its socket again and again. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Otis Drew treats shoulder instability with a number of surgical techniques to reduce your pain and improve function and mobility. If you live in the area of Lafayette, Louisiana, contact his office by phone or book an appointment online to learn more about shoulder stabilization surgery.
If you experience an injury or accident that over-stretches your shoulder joint, you may decrease the stability of the joint. Falling, a physical collision like during a vehicular accident, a sports tackle, or carrying something heavy for a long distance may be possible causes.
Your shoulder joint becomes loose and cannot heal. Some people experience shoulder instability even without a traumatic incident. Shoulder instability tends to be chronic; once it slips out of joint, it’s likely to do so again and again.
When conservative physical therapy fails to resolve your shoulder instability, Dr. Drew may recommend surgery; usually if you have or show signs of glenohumeral instability or instability associated with the shoulder blade. You must be willing to commit to therapy and strength training after surgery to augment your stability.
When recommending surgery, Dr. Drew takes into consideration:
Dr. Drew uses several techniques for shoulder stabilization. These include an arthroscopic procedure, which is minimally invasive and useful if you’ve had only a few dislocations. During this procedure, Dr. Drew makes small incisions and inserts a tiny camera into the space. He can also do minor repairs with small instruments in these incisions.
An open operation is an alternative that’s also known as a “full reconstruction.” This procedure can produce better success, especially if you’ve had multiple dislocations or are an elite athlete. However, it’s more invasive and involved and may result in a moderate loss of movement in certain positions of your shoulder.
The types of open surgery include:
If you have an unstable shoulder that slips out of the socket and causes pain, call Dr. Drew’s office or make an appointment online to find lasting relief from this debilitating condition.
