Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery in Missoula, Montana

The rotator cuff is a group of tendons surrounding the humeral head and shoulder blade that work together to stabilize the shoulder joint and power arm movement during daily activities and sports. Rotator cuff tears can result from a sudden injury, overuse, or the gradual wear of aging, and patients typically experience pain, weakness, and difficulty lifting or rotating the affected shoulder.

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair allows our surgeons to treat rotator cuff tears by reattaching the torn rotator cuff tendon to the upper arm bone using sutures attached through very small incisions rather than the larger incisions required for open shoulder surgery. Arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery helps patients restore shoulder strength, reduce pain, and return to normal activity with a faster recovery than traditional open surgery.

Shoulder impingement syndrome, Missoula, MT, causes tendons inside the shoulder joint to become compressed and irritated as the arm bone moves, producing pain when lifting the arm and inflammation in the surrounding soft tissues. Patients with this condition often experience persistent shoulder pain that limits their range of motion and makes everyday tasks difficult to perform.

During arthroscopic shoulder surgery, our surgeons remove inflamed tissue and bone spurs that contribute to compression inside the glenohumeral joint, relieving pressure on the rotator cuff tendon and biceps tendon. This minimally invasive procedure relieves pain and restores comfortable shoulder movement without the prolonged recovery associated with open shoulder surgery.

The labrum is a ring of cartilage that lines the shoulder joint and helps stabilize the humeral head within the glenohumeral joint during movement. Labral tears, including SLAP tears, commonly result from shoulder dislocation, repetitive overhead activity, or sports injuries, and patients often experience instability, catching, and pain deep inside the affected shoulder.

Our orthopedic surgeons use arthroscopic fixation techniques to repair labral tears through very small incisions, reattaching the torn tissue and restoring stability to the shoulder joint. Arthroscopic repair of labral tears helps patients regain shoulder strength and confidence in their movement while avoiding the longer recovery associated with open surgery.

Shoulder instability develops when the ligaments, the shoulder capsule, and the surrounding soft tissues that hold the humeral head in place become stretched or torn, leading to repeated dislocations or a persistent feeling of looseness in the affected shoulder. Patients with shoulder instability often experience weakness, pain, and apprehension during movement, particularly during overhead or throwing activities common in sports medicine settings.

In order to reestablish stability in the glenohumeral joint, our surgeons employ specialized instruments and sutures to tighten the shoulder capsule and repair damaged ligaments through the use of extremely small incisions during arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Addressing shoulder instability arthroscopically reduces the risk of future dislocations and helps patients return to sports and daily activities with greater confidence and shoulder strength.

Shoulder arthritis causes the cartilage inside the glenohumeral joint to wear down over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and inflammation that limit shoulder movement and daily function. As cartilage deteriorates, the humeral head and shoulder blade surfaces begin to rub against each other, causing significant discomfort that worsens with activity.

During arthroscopic shoulder surgery, our surgeons remove damaged tissue, loose fragments, and bone spurs from inside the shoulder joint to relieve pain and reduce inflammation without the need for open surgery or shoulder replacement. Patients with shoulder arthritis often experience meaningful improvement in function and comfort following arthroscopic treatment, allowing them to delay or avoid further surgery, such as shoulder replacement.

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition in which the shoulder capsule becomes thickened and inflamed, causing progressive pain and stiffness that significantly restricts the range of motion in the affected shoulder. Patients with frozen shoulder often struggle to perform basic daily tasks and may find that the condition worsens over time without proper treatment.

During arthroscopic shoulder surgery, our surgeons release the tight shoulder capsule through very small incisions, allowing the shoulder joint to move more freely and reducing the pain and stiffness associated with adhesive capsulitis. This minimally invasive approach helps patients restore range of motion and begin physical therapy sooner than they could following open surgery.