Shoulder Instability

Pinching of the rotator cuff and bursa between the ball of the shoulder and the bony roof above it, causing pain with reaching and overhead activity.

Shoulder Impingement

A shoulder that dislocates or slips partly out of the socket, usually after a first dislocation stretched the ligaments and tore the labrum.

Shoulder Instability

Wear of the smooth cartilage lining the ball and socket of the shoulder, producing deep pain, grinding and progressive stiffness.

Shoulder Arthritis

Adhesive capsulitis: thickening and tightening of the joint capsule that stiffens the shoulder and causes months of pain, often with no injury at all.

Frozen Shoulder

A tear of the top of the labrum where the biceps tendon anchors, common in throwers and after a fall on an outstretched arm.

SLAP Tear

A sprain or separation of the joint where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade, usually from a fall onto the point of the shoulder.

AC Joint Injury

Inflammation, fraying or tearing of the biceps tendon where it anchors inside the shoulder, often alongside rotator cuff or labral problems.

Biceps Tendon Injury

Inflammation of the fluid-filled cushion between the rotator cuff and the bony roof of the shoulder, causing pain with reaching and lying on that side.

Shoulder Bursitis

Breaks of the collarbone, the upper arm bone at the shoulder, or the shoulder blade, from falls and collisions. Many heal in a sling; some need fixation or replacement.

Shoulder Fractures

Damage to the smooth cartilage surface of the ball or socket, from a dislocation, an injury or early wear, that causes pain, catching and the start of arthritis.

Shoulder Cartilage Injury

Overuse injuries of the shoulder and elbow in baseball, softball and other overhead athletes: labral tears, internal impingement, biceps problems and elbow ligament strain.

Throwing Injuries

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Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.

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Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104

Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330

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What it is

Shoulder Instability

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and the least constrained.

After a dislocation, the labrum and ligaments that hold the ball in place are often torn, and the shoulder can slip again with less and less force.Instability can also be looseness in multiple directions without a dislocation, more common in people with flexible joints.

Treated by

J. Ryan Taylor, MD, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. TaylorShoulder and Sports Medicine

Kevin Christensen, MD, Knee, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. ChristensenKnee, Shoulder and Sports Medicine

Michael Carlson, MD, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. CarlsonShoulder and Sports Medicine

Jeffrey Wallentine, MD, Joint Replacement surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists

Dr. WallentineJoint Replacement

or call801-640-0000

Shoulder Instability

Symptoms

A shoulder that has dislocated, often requiring a reduction in the emergency department.Afterward, apprehension with the arm raised and turned out, a sense the shoulder could slip, and repeated subluxations with sports or sleep.

Pain, clicking and dead-arm episodes with throwing are common.

Common signs

A shoulder that has come out

Apprehension with arm up and out

Repeated slips with sport or sleep

Dead-arm feeling when throwing

See us sooner if

Shoulder stuck out of joint

Numbness down the arm

Shoulder Instability

Causes

A traumatic first dislocation from a fall, tackle or arm wrenched overhead.Younger age at first dislocation strongly predicts recurrence: under twenty, most will dislocate again.Repeated dislocations wear away bone from the socket and the ball, making the joint progressively less stable.

Shoulder Instability

How We Diagnose It

Exam reproduces apprehension in the vulnerable position.X-rays assess bone loss. MRI, often with contrast, shows the labral tear. A CT scan measures bone loss precisely when surgery is being planned.Bone loss is the key factor that decides which operation is right.Snowboarders, wrestlers and climbers are our most common instability patients; CT for bone loss is done locally when surgery is planned. Dr. Taylor, Dr. Christensen, Dr. Carlson and Dr. Wallentine operate at Utah Valley Hospital and American Fork Hospital.

Shoulder Instability

Treatment Options

After a first dislocation in an older adult, a period in a sling and physical therapy often suffices.

Young athletes and anyone with recurrent instability are usually offered arthroscopic labral repair.When significant socket bone has been lost, a bone block procedure such as the Latarjet is more reliable than soft tissue repair alone.

Your options

Non-surgical

Sling after first event

Physical therapy

Activity changes

Surgical

Labral repair (scope)

Bone block (Latarjet)

Shoulder Labral Repair

Shoulder Arthroscopy

Shoulder Instability

Procedures That Address It

Shoulder Labral Repair

Shoulder Arthroscopy

Shoulder Instability

Surgeons Who Treat It

Dr. Taylor, MD

Dual fellowship trained in sports medicine and in shoulder and elbow surgery. Former Division I football player.

Dr. Christensen, MD

Andrews Institute sports medicine fellowship under Dr. James Andrews. Board certified in orthopedic surgery and orthopedic sports medicine. Fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Carlson, MD

Arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, elbow, knee, hip and ankle. Published sports medicine researcher. Fourteen years in practice.

Dr. Wallentine, MD

Thirty-four years in practice. Mako robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement. Stanford sports medicine fellowship. BYU athletics team surgeon.

or call801-640-0000

ContactTalk toa real person.

Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.

Call801-640-0000

TextSend a text

Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104

Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330