A recent shoulder injury to All-Star baseball player Derek Jeter is very common in some sports but less ordinary in baseball. For this reason, no one knows for certain whether Jeter will need surgery and/or months of rehabilitation after suffering what doctors describe as shoulder instability. Edward McFarland, M.D., associate professor in the division of sports medicine and shoulder surgery at the Johns Hopkins Department of Orthopaedics is available to discuss the condition and treatment options.
McFarland, a leading expert on shoulder injuries, says that this injury occurs when the area -- where the arm bone (the humeral) ball meets the socket of the shoulder blade -- goes into extreme up and back motion. The ball comes all the way out of the socket (dislocate) or part of the way out (subluxate). When this happens, the ligaments and other structures that hold the shoulder together rip and tear, which not only is painful, but can lead to recurrent problems. For further information, please visit:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/orthopedicsurgery/sports/postops/instability/index.html
McFarland is not involved in Jeter's care, but can discuss these issues regarding shoulder injuries:
+ Is surgery a proper course of action for this injury?+ What factors should be taken into account before surgery is considered?+ If surgery is not required, how many months of rehabilitation usually are needed to heal the injured area?+ What are the chances for full recovery and shoulder mobility?+ What recurrent problems plague patients who suffer this injury?
SOURCE: Edward McFarland, M.D. Director of the Division of Sports Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Department of Orthopaedic Surgery http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/sportsmedicine.html
Additional Websites of interest:Labrum tears:http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/orthopedicsurgery/sports/shoulder/labrum.html
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