Shoulder surgery is a sub-specialty of orthopaedics that deals with the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of disorders of the shoulder. An orthopaedic surgeon has a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine medical degree and training that encompasses both orthopaedic residency and an optional 6-month to one year of fellowship training specific in techniques of shoulder surgery.
Shoulder surgeons are trained to treat all disorders of the shoulder, both surgical and non-surgical. This specialized training helps them understand how to properly diagnose and treat injuries that cause pain and restrict the movement of shoulders, including sprains and strains, dislocations, tendinitis, bursitis, rotator cuff injury, fractures, and arthritis.
Proper Diagnosis and Treatment
Arthroscopy is a procedure used for both diagnosis and treatment of joint problems. Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimum invasive surgery procedure used to see into the shoulder joint and repair damaged bone, muscle, tendon or ligament of the joint. It is done as an outpatient procedure and is safer than open shoulder surgery.
Minimally invasive shoulder replacement offers the same successful outcomes as traditional, larger-incision operations. It is performed through a smaller incision and causes minimal disruption to soft tissue structures allowing for a faster recovery with the additional benefit of a smaller scar.
Rotator cuff tear is best viewed on magnetic resonance imaging. Symptomatic relief may be obtained with conservative treatments – rest, shoulder sling, pain medications, steroidal injections and certain exercises. However, surgery is required to fix the tendon back to the shoulder bone. Rotator cuff repair may be performed by open surgery or arthroscopic procedure.
Meet Our Team
John L. Todd, M.D.
Orthopaedic Shoulder Surgeon/Sports Medicine Specialist
Medical School: University of South Alabama (Mobile, AL)
Residency: Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC)
Fellowship: Sports Medicine and Shoulder Reconstruction at
Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation (Columbus, GA)