Shoulder

Bryan C. Fagan, MD
William P. Pillow, MD
Gabriel Rulewicz, MD

Our specialty-trained shoulder doctors are experts in assessing, diagnosing, and treating shoulder injuries and conditions. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint, comprised of a system of muscles and ligaments connecting the clavicle (collarbone), scapula (shoulder blade), and humerus (upper arm bone). It is the most versatile joint with the widest range of motion in the human body, and its complex structure allows for a tremendous amount of flexibility. However, this wide range of motion also introduces an increased vulnerability to injury.

Typically, shoulder pain can be identified as the result of one of four root causes: instability, arthritis, inflammation, or fractures. Shoulder instability occurs when the shoulder joint becomes dislocated (the head of the humerus is forced out of the socket). Whether the result of a sudden injury or from overuse, each time the shoulder is dislocated the ligaments are stretched, making the shoulder increasingly more susceptible to repeat episodes.