Shoulders

What is shoulder instability?

Shoulder instability occurs when the head of the upper bone “slips” either partially or completely out of the socket. Once the shoulder has been dislocated, it becomes more vulnerable to repeat dislocations, even during everyday activities, necessitating minimally invasive shoulder surgery.

swimming laps | minimally invasive shoulder surgery

Shoulder instability can develop in a variety of ways:

  • Sports, vehicular, or other type of injury causing trauma, including labral tears and/or dislocations of the shoulder joint
  • Repetitive motion injuries, especially among athletes who acquire shoulder laxity (looseness) from repetitive activities such as throwing or swimming
  • History of shoulder “slipping” in and out of socket
  • Genetic factors, which can cause laxity in the joint and surrounding ligaments, tendons, and muscles, especially when the shoulder is put under strain or stress

Dr. Karas’ research on shoulder instability and surgery solutions has been published in multiple peer-reviewed publications and he has given both national and international presentations and numerous lectures on the subject. With 25+ years of specialized expertise in orthopedic sports medicine, Dr. Karas can treat your shoulder instability.

Minimally Invasive Shoulder Surgery

  • Minimally invasive (as opposed to open surgery, in which the surgeon must split the muscle to make an incision)
  • An arthroscopic camera (about the size of a pencil) is inserted through an incision which allows Dr. Karas to view the joint and perform the surgery with small tools
  • Surgery is performed under general anesthesia
  • Results in less tissue trauma, less post-op pain, and faster, more dependable rehabilitation than traditional surgery

Watch a video of Dr. Karas performing minimally invasive shoulder instability surgery here.