Patient Resources
Patient Education
Understanding your shoulder or elbow condition is an important part of your care. Below you will find information about common conditions treated by Dr. Dilisio, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Rotator Cuff Tear
A rotator cuff tear is a common cause of pain and disability among adults. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that form a cuff over the upper end of the arm bone (humerus).
Common Symptoms
- Pain with overhead activities
- Weakness when lifting or rotating the arm
- Crackling sensation when moving the shoulder
- Difficulty sleeping on the affected side
Treatment Options
Treatment ranges from physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, depending on tear size, patient age, and activity level.
Schedule consultationShoulder Instability
Shoulder instability occurs when the structures that surround the shoulder joint do not work to maintain the ball within its socket. This can cause recurrent dislocations and subluxations.
Common Symptoms
- Recurrent shoulder dislocations
- Feeling of the shoulder "slipping out"
- Pain with certain arm positions
- Apprehension with overhead activities
Treatment Options
Arthroscopic Bankart repair, Latarjet procedure, or posterior labral repair depending on the direction of instability and degree of bone loss.
Schedule consultationShoulder Arthritis
Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage that covers the top of the humerus and the glenoid gradually wears away, causing pain and stiffness.
Common Symptoms
- Deep aching pain in the shoulder
- Stiffness and limited range of motion
- Grinding or clicking with movement
- Pain that worsens with activity
Treatment Options
Conservative management with physical therapy and injections is tried first. Total shoulder replacement or reverse shoulder arthroplasty may be recommended for advanced arthritis.
Schedule consultationFrozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. Signs and symptoms typically begin gradually, worsen over time, and then resolve.
Common Symptoms
- Progressive loss of shoulder motion
- Pain at rest and with movement
- Difficulty with daily activities
- Symptoms lasting 1–3 years if untreated
Treatment Options
Physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, and hydrodilatation are first-line treatments. Arthroscopic capsular release is effective for refractory cases.
Schedule consultationCuff Tear Arthropathy
Cuff tear arthropathy is a severe form of shoulder arthritis that develops as a result of a massive, long-standing rotator cuff tear. The loss of the rotator cuff leads to abnormal joint mechanics and cartilage destruction.
Common Symptoms
- Severe shoulder pain
- Profound weakness
- Inability to raise the arm
- Significant loss of function
Treatment Options
Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty is the gold standard treatment, restoring function by using the deltoid muscle to power shoulder movement.
Schedule consultationBiceps Tendinitis & Tears
Biceps tendinitis is inflammation of the biceps tendon at the shoulder. The long head of the biceps tendon is a common source of anterior shoulder pain and can also tear, causing a characteristic "Popeye" deformity.
Common Symptoms
- Anterior shoulder pain
- Pain with overhead activities
- Tenderness along the bicipital groove
- "Popeye" deformity with complete tear
Treatment Options
Biceps tenodesis (reattaching the tendon to the humerus) or tenotomy (releasing the tendon) can effectively treat both tendinitis and tears.
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