Shoulder Conditions & Surgery Procedures in Chicago

If you’ve had an AC separation, you know how painful this injury can be. The good news is that surgery can often be delayed—and often skipped entirely.

The biceps muscle is the large muscle on the front of the arm that we use to flex the elbow, extend the arm, and rotate the forearm. It is frequently overlooked as a source of the shoulder pain a patient may experience after an injury.

The clavicle is a key structure connecting the breastplate to the shoulder blade. At this location, it must absorb force from many directions. A substantial jolt to the shoulder or arm will put strain on the clavicle, and sometimes result in a fracture.

Chicago orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Anthony Romeo has built a solid reputation on correcting previous shoulder stabilization surgery that failed to relieve pain and instability in the joint. In shoulder stabilization revision cases, Dr. Romeo performs Latarjet surgery for optimal results.

Although the causes of frozen shoulder are not fully understood, it can occur when the shoulder is inactive for a period of time after an arm injury. Bursitis or rotator cuff tendonitis may inflame muscles or tendons, causing the joint to “freeze.” Diabetes is also a risk factor.

Shoulder impingement occurs when there is compression of the soft tissues around the rotator cuff when the arm is moved in certain directions. If the space between the rotator cuff and the bony roof (acromion) decreases, shoulder impingement may be the painful result.

The labrum is tough, resilient cartilage that protects the shoulder joint and connects to important structures involved in motion of the shoulder. Sometimes the labrum tears as a result of a shoulder dislocation or other type of injury, resulting in significant pain and loss of range of motion.

Shoulder instability can occur for a few different reasons. One of the potential causes is a traumatic event causing the shoulder to dislocate, which may occur while playing high-intensity contact sports or even with a fall. If the shoulder doesn’t heal properly, this can cause repeated instability over time.

Orthopaedic surgery is a dynamic field of medicine, with new techniques and innovations becoming available every year. One of the most exciting developments has been the technological advances that have made outpatient surgery possible for many shoulder replacement patients.

Some patients have undergone shoulder replacement surgery but have not been happy with the results. Dr. Romeo specializes in working with patients who need a revision surgery to address pain or other issues after a previous failed shoulder surgery.

For a traditional shoulder replacement to be successful, the rotator cuff must be in a functioning state. If the tendons are torn or otherwise damaged, a reverse shoulder replacement can improve or fully restore motion and function to the shoulder.

Rotator cuff injuries are a result of tendon damage in the shoulder. There are a number of different ways these types of injuries can occur, including normal wear-and-tear, as well as overuse due to athletics or accidental overextension.

Shoulder arthritis can be very painful and affect your job, your sleep, and your enjoyment of life. The good news is that there are several treatment options available for people with shoulder arthritis.

Thanks to the advancement of optical and orthopaedic technology, many shoulder procedures can be performed by making small incisions and using tiny cameras to see inside the shoulder. This form of treatment is called arthroscopy.

Shoulder dislocation occurs when a forceful movement is applied to the shoulder which overcomes the blocking effect of the cartilage rim, ligaments, and muscles which protect and support the shoulder joint.

The shoulder is a complex joint that has the largest range-of-motion of all of the joints in the body. A shoulder fracture is another way to describe a broken shoulder. Shoulder fractures can occur due to a fall, sports injury, motor vehicle accident or other type of trauma.

Despite its funny name, a SLAP tear is no joke. It involves a tear of the labrum, the lip of cartilage that surrounds the shoulder socket. Here’s what you need to know.

The front part of the rotator cuff is known as the subscapularis, and a tear of this tendon can be very painful, as well as affect function and flexibility. It is typically damaged as a result of a traumatic injury, and is more common in patients between 30 and 50.

Shoulder replacement (shoulder arthroplasty) is a solution for shoulder pain that involves replacing arthritic joint surfaces and damaged bone with artificial devices. Using this effective procedure, Dr. Romeo helps patients reclaim the freedom, flexibility, and comfort they once knew.