Shoulder Doctor
At University Orthopaedic Surgeons, we are committed to providing the shoulder care patients need to excel. We proudly serve our communities in Knoxville, Sevierville, and the surrounding areas with specialized and compassionate care from our highly trained and skilled doctors, surgeons, and staff.
Shoulder or clavicle injuries can happen fairly abruptly, whether due to sports-related injuries, such as a tear in the rotator cuff, or as a result of chronic health conditions, like arthritis. The good news is that there are many different treatment options available for those experiencing shoulder pain, including surgery as well as nonsurgical interventions. There are a number of potential injuries and medical conditions that could impact your shoulder, which can lead to pain, limited mobility, or both. Shoulder specialists, who can also specialize in sports medicine or joint replacement, will evaluate and diagnose your condition and recommend a specific treatment plan that will meet your individual needs.
Our shoulder doctors treat many common shoulder ailments, such as:
- Bursitis
- Dislocated shoulder
- Fractures and broken bones
- Frozen shoulder
- Rotator cuff tears
- Rotator cuff tendonitis and other tendon problems
- Shoulder arthritis
- Shoulder impingement
- Shoulder instability
- SLAP tears
When you make an appointment to see one of our orthopaedic shoulder specialists, the first step will be a thorough physical evaluation. This may involve imaging, such as X-rays, as well as arthroscopy, which allows the doctor to see directly inside your shoulder joint.
Patients will receive a treatment plan that's tailored to their particular needs, and in some cases, this may include nonoperative treatments, such as exercise, heat or ice therapy, medication, or physical therapy. In other instances, shoulder surgery may be required.
There are different procedures that your surgeon can recommend, including rotator cuff repair surgery, acromioclavicular joint reconstruction, reverse total shoulder replacement surgery, bicep tenodesis, or arthroscopic techniques. Ultimately, the type of surgery you have is dependent on your injury or condition.
If you are a patient that does require shoulder surgery, there will be various options to consider, and your doctor will discuss with you which surgical options would be best. Speaking with your shoulder surgeon will give you a sense of which surgery you need and what each type of shoulder surgery entails.
Shoulder joint replacement surgery is often performed to treat severe conditions, including avascular necrosis, rotator cuff arthropathy, and various forms of advanced arthritis, such as posttraumatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Shoulder replacement can serve to return strength and function to the joint, offering patients a solution to chronic pain when nonsurgical treatments no longer provide relief.
Visiting a medical doctor is recommended if your shoulder condition meets any of the following criteria:
- You are unable to raise your arm above your head
- You experience a grinding or bone-on-bone sensation when moving your shoulder
- You experience redness or swelling around the joint along with your shoulder pain
- You experience weakness or limited mobility that prevents you from doing everyday tasks
- You have pain that radiates down to your elbow
- You have sharp pain when you try to lift things
- You have throbbing pain when attempting to do activities
Our shoulder doctors understand that pain can keep you from living life to the fullest. To schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, call (865) 546-2663 for our UT Research Park and Sevierville offices, (865) 218-9300 for our West Knoxville office, or request an appointment online.
Exceptional Care at University Orthopaedic Surgeons
Our years of experience and advanced training devoted to the care of orthopaedic issues, including those of the shoulder, make us who we are, but our compassionate care of our patients is what makes us dedicated to you. Our shoulder specialists at University Orthopaedic Surgeons, Dr. Michael Kern, Dr. Philip McDowell, and Dr. Joshua Moss, are unparalleled experts in accurately diagnosing and effectively treating shoulder injuries and conditions in a broad range of patients, and they continuously strive to exceed our patients' expectations in the delivery of care.
To consult with a University Orthopaedic Surgeons shoulder surgeon, please request an appointment online or call (865) 546-2663 for our UT Research Park and Sevierville offices or (865) 218-9300 for our West Knoxville office.
