Shoulder Surgery Review
The review compares each proposed shoulder target with your pain pattern, painful motions, function, prior care, and written imaging report.
What the review organizes
Your symptoms and functional limits are considered alongside the proposed repair or repairs, written imaging report, prior treatment, and goals.
The report may identify priorities for focused in-person evaluation and explains where the available information appears consistent or still needs clarification.
For people who have not had shoulder surgery, whether surgery has been discussed or not.
For persistent symptoms after shoulder surgery or another surgery being considered in the same region.
Case priorities, missing information, and focused questions for your treating professionals.
Shoulder procedure families
A single shoulder operation may combine cuff repair, labral work, biceps treatment, acromioplasty, bursectomy, or clavicle work. Start with the guide that most closely matches the recommendation.
Explore the tendon target, painful motions, and reported weakness.
View guide →Labral repair or cleanup, acromioplasty, decompression, and bursectomy.
View guide →Research in context
Each percentage describes a specific study population. Open the study details to see who was studied, what was measured, and how the result should be read.
did not choose surgery during ten years after physical therapy for an atraumatic full-thickness cuff tear
Population: 452 patients with symptomatic, atraumatic, full-thickness rotator cuff tears.
Finding in context: 27% underwent surgery. Outcomes improved with physical therapy and did not decline in those who remained nonoperative.
MOON Shoulder prospective cohort, 2024 →had successful nonoperative treatment for an isolated type II SLAP tear
Population: 63 young, active patients with isolated type II superior labral tears.
Finding in context: Trauma, mechanical symptoms, and overhead activity were associated with a greater chance of nonoperative failure.
Jang et al., Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2016 →returned to work after exercise therapy for shoulder impingement in a placebo-surgery trial
Population: 68 participants assigned to exercise therapy within a 184-person randomized trial.
Finding in context: Return to work was 90% with exercise, 88% with decompression, and 88% with diagnostic arthroscopy at 24 months.
Bäck et al., BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2021 →Rotator cuff, labral, biceps, and impingement studies describe different conditions. The proposed target and the symptom pattern need to be considered together.
The screening uses your surgical history and current situation to show the likely review level.
Start the Shoulder ScreeningSurgical decisions remain with you and your treating surgeon.