Shoulder Disorders and Injuries by Dr Jeffrey Budoff
Top Houston Shoulder surgeon

Rotator Cuff Injury

The Rotator Cuff is the most common source of shoulder pain, weakness and dysfunction.  While the Rotator Cuff can be injured in a fall, a motor vehicle accident or by other trauma, most of the time the Rotator Cuff becomes damaged there is no trauma involved, and a cause is never found.  This is … more

Rotator Cuff Tear

A Rotator Cuff Tear – Cannulas (clear hollow tubes) facilitate the passage of arthroscopic instruments into the shoulder.Instruments are used to pass sutures through the torn Rotat… more

Subscapularis Tears

Torn Subscapularis Tendon (Note: Loss of Tension) Repaired Subscapularis Tendon (Note: Normal Tension in Tendon)… more

Biceps Tendon Disorders at the Shoulder

The Biceps Tendon has two “heads”, or origins, that contribute to it: the Long Head and the Short Head. The Long Head goes through the shoulder, where it frequently degenerates from overuse and becomes painful. Depending on the severity of its degeneration, the Long Head of the Biceps can be intact … more

Shoulder Instability / Dislocation

Bones of the shoulderThe shoulder’s joint capsule and its thickenings (ligaments) – Superior gleno-humeral ligament (SGHL), middle gleno-humeral ligament… more

SLAP Lesions

SLAP (Superior Labral Anterior-Posterior) Lesions refer to tears of the labrum (the ‘meniscus of the shoulder’) near the top of the glenoid socket.  SLAP lesions detach the base of the Long Biceps Tendon, as the Long Biceps Tendon essentially originates from the top of the labrum.  SLAP lesion… more

Pectoralis Tendon Repair

Tears of the pectoralis major tendon are an uncommon, but significant, injury to the shoulder… more

Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Instability, Subluxation & Dislocation

The Acromio-Clavicular (AC) Joint is the small joint on top of the shoulder where the clavicle inserts.  If the AC joint is hit head-on, such as when falling off a bike or tackling somebody without shoulder pads, the clavicle can dislocate from the AC joint, spring upwards and become prominent / no… more

Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Arthritis

AC Joint Arthritis leads to pain at the top of the shoulder.  Painful AC Joint Arthritis occurs more frequently in laborers and weight-lifters, but is very common in the general population as well.  It is important to understand that AC Joint Arthritis is extremely common on X-rays and MRIs.  In … more

Suprascapular Nerve Compression

The Suprascapular Nerve is the nerve to the Rotator Cuff.  The Suprascapular Nerve runs in the back of the shoulder, where it can be pinched, or compressed.  Suprascapular Nerve Compression has been called the ‘Carpal Tunnel Syndrome of the shoulder’, although it’s nowhere near as common. … more

Clavicle (Collarbone) Fractures

Clavicle (collarbone) Fractures are very common injuries.  If a Clavicle Fracture is not significantly displaced (moved) or angled (bent), then it can be treated in a sling for 6 weeks.  For people who do a lot of deskwork, a ‘figure-8’ brace that leaves the arms free may be preferred. If a… more

Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)

Frozen Shoulder is a very painful condition in which the shoulder freezes up and becomes stiff.  Frozen Shoulder may or may not be due to trauma.  People with diabetes, thyroid dysfunction or gout are more commonly affected.  While the reason Frozen Shoulder happens in many people is unclear (man… more

Shoulder & Arm Pain

Shoulder and arm pain can be caused by many disorders: Rotator Cuff Tendinosis, Rotator Cuff Tears, Biceps Tendon Disorders, Shoulder Instability, SLAP Lesions, AC Joint Instability, AC Joint Arthritis, Suprascapular Nerve Compression, Clavicle Fractures, Frozen Shoulder, Avascular Necrosis (death) … more