Update in surgical treatment of shoulder injuries

Abstract

Increased life expectancy, combined with advancements in medicine, has given rise to an increased prevalence of shoulder injuries. Additionally, the recent social trend in Korea of participation of younger generations in sports activities has also contributed to this increased prevalence. Many healthcare institutions, however, are performing surgery for shoulder injuries without thorough consideration of the complete clinical picture. Only a few of these injuries require surgery, and most of them can be treated and improved with conservative management. The need for surgery should be decided in conjunction with the consideration of the patient's age, living environment and level of physical activity. Here, we give a brief introduction to indications and methods for surgical treatment of shoulder injuries such as rotator cuff injuries, calcifying tendinitis, shoulder instability, osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint, and adhesive capsulitis.