Shoulder Surgery

You might need shoulder surgery if you suffer a sudden traumatic injury that can’t or won’t heal by itself. The Orthopedic Trauma Surgeons of Northern California team in Carmichael, California, performs advanced surgeries on patients with shoulder fractures. The talented team members use state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge techniques to repair severe injuries or replace the joint. 

Why would I need shoulder surgery?

You might benefit from shoulder surgery if you suffer an acute (sudden) injury that damages the joint or the surrounding bones and tissues. The Orthopedic Trauma Surgeons of Northern California team specializes in surgery to repair shoulder fractures.

Fractures are broken bones. The most common way to suffer an acute fracture is a traumatic injury. Falls, car accidents, and sports or hobbies can all result in fractures.

Some injuries need stabilizing and support with a cast or sling while the bones heal. Others need manipulation (closed reduction) using X-ray imaging to realign the bones first. Some patients need shoulder surgery to repair a severe fracture.

Which injuries can require shoulder surgery?

Injuries that can benefit from shoulder surgery include:

Scapula (shoulder blade) fractures

The scapula is a large, flattish bone covered in muscles. High-energy pursuits like car accidents or falls from a height can damage the scapula. Fractures might affect the main section of your shoulder blade (scapular body) or the socket (glenoid) that holds the ball-shaped bone at the top of your arm. The projecting upper scapula bones (acromion and coracoid) can also break.

Clavicle fracture

The clavicle (collarbone) is a small bone at the top of your shoulder. Broken clavicles usually result from falls.

Proximal humerus fracture

The proximal humerus is the end of the long upper arm bone, which widens to form a ball.

Displaced fractures where the bone has moved out of place often require surgery.

What does shoulder surgery involve?

Shoulder surgery is usually done under a general anesthetic, so you’ll sleep through the operation. The first stage involves accessing the bones through incisions in the muscles above the injury. Your surgeon realigns the bones or fits bone fragments back into position. They’ll remove loose bone pieces that aren’t repairable.

Next, your surgeon attaches metal plates, screws, wires, or other fixation devices to the bone’s outer surface. These can be internal, staying in place after surgery, or external, temporarily supporting the bones as they heal.

If the shoulder joint is so severely damaged the team can’t fix it, they’ll do shoulder replacement surgery. This involves removing the socket and/or ball and inserting artificial parts to replace most or all of the shoulder joint.