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A Texas board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. John M. Hibbitts, has diagnosed shoulder problems and treated shoulder injuries for more than 20 years. During his hundreds of hours in the operating room, Dr. Hibbitts has become experienced in all major shoulder surgeries, including fracture and dislocation repair, shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff surgery, labral repair, SLAP tear repair, and ligament surgeries to correct “frozen shoulder” syndrome. Dr. Hibbitts also proudly offers the advanced technique of InSpace balloon for rotator cuff tears.
With a solid medical background from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and two decades of experience, Dr. Hibbitts is a top shoulder surgeon near Dallas, TX, diagnosing and treating shoulder pain caused by injury, arthritis, and long-term wear and tear.
In 2021, with the aim of becoming a top shoulder surgery surgeon in the greater Dallas metro area, Dr. Hibbitts established the Sunnyvale Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery Center. A Texas native, Dr. Hibbitts believes in serving the healthcare of his community.
Conveniently located near Hwy 80 and I-635, we have set a course to become known as one of the best orthopedic shoulder surgeon facilities in the greater Dallas metro area.
Arthroscopic shoulder surgeries are less invasive than traditional surgeries that require large “open” incisions, and studies have shown them to be equally effective. As many as 97% of patients report the full return of shoulder function and pain relief after this type of surgery.
One of the body’s ball-and-socket joints, the shoulder, connects the structures of the arm to the trunk of the body. Able to move up and down, forward and backward, and in rotating motions, the shoulder is vital for many essential day-to-day movements and activities. Injuries or degenerative conditions like arthritis can damage the shoulder, perhaps prompting you to search for the right shoulder surgery surgeon to restore your quality of life.
Labrum cartilage: This rubbery, resilient tissue lines the interior of the scapula along the “socket” around the “ball” at the end of the humerus.
The “rotator cuff” consists of tendons, muscles, and fluid-filled sacs called “bursae” that surround and support the shoulder joint. Made of multiple layers of tissues, this structure can become damaged or weak over time from injury or overuse.
The shoulder can suffer a bone fracture in several places, but the most common bone fracture is the clavicle or the “collar bone.” Trauma and degenerative disease frequently contribute to broken bones near or in the shoulder socket, requiring surgery to repair them correctly and ensure proper healing. Broken bones may need to be “set” in place during the surgery and stabilized afterward with a sling or brace.
A shoulder “dislocation” occurs when the “ball” end of the humerus dislodges from the “socket” groove where it sits in the scapula. A specialist can re-insert the bone without surgery and may recommend long-term nonsurgical treatments. While a dislocated shoulder doesn’t necessarily require immediate surgery, once you dislocate your shoulder, the soft tissues frequently suffer long-term effects, and repeated dislocations are common for many people.
Over time, your shoulder can become unstable and “pop out” of position regularly. To correct this kind of instability, a shoulder surgery specialist reattaches or tightens damaged tissues with the help of surgical screws or metal plates, sutures, or grafts.
When shoulder ligaments become torn or overstressed through injury or work, you may benefit from seeing a shoulder instability surgeon who can evaluate whether surgery is the best resolution for your pain or immobility.
Depending on the type of damage your shoulder has sustained, you may need surgery to either detach or loosen tightened ligaments or to tighten those loosened by multiple sprains and other injuries. There are some cases that may need bankart repair or total shoulder replacement.
A Bankart repair is a procedure for patients with habitual anterior shoulder dislocation. The joint capsule is sewed to the detached glenoid labrum, without duplication of the subscapularis or rotator cuff tendon. As an orthopedic shoulder surgeon, Dr. Hibbitts can put you on a path toward full healing immediately.
The condition called “frozen shoulder” often refers to complete immobility in the shoulder joint caused by inflammation and tightening of ligaments. Your pain may respond to nonsurgical methods, such as physical therapy. However, if those don’t relieve your shoulder pain, Dr. Hibbitts may recommend surgery to unlock your shoulder’s immobility.
The surgery for a frozen shoulder is typically an outpatient arthroscopic surgery with excellent results. The doctor makes small incisions in the shoulder to remove scar tissue and lengthen or detach ligaments that inhibit movement.
The rotator cuff is a structure of several tendons, muscles, and bursae that cover the end of the shoulder joint and generally protect it from damage and wear. These connective tissues can be injured and become detached or out of position, causing long-term pain and problems with range of motion.
The most common tendon in the rotator cuff to be torn and require surgery for repair is the supraspinatus tendon, which connects the end of the clavicle to the top of the humerus.
Your surgical procedure will depend on your injury's location and specific circumstances. As an experienced rotator cuff surgeon, Dr. Hibbitts can perform “open repair,” mini-open repair, or arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery.
In this traditional approach to shoulder surgery, the surgeon makes a full incision over the affected area of the rotator cuff and “opens” the surgical site.
The most invasive type of rotator cuff surgery, an open repair surgery, allows for more extensive or complex repairs to the shoulder joint, including removing bone spurs or reconstructing multiple torn or damaged tendons at once. The surgeon may detach the deltoid muscle from the shoulder to reach the area that requires repair, then reattach the deltoid afterward.
Combining traditional open repair and full arthroscopic shoulder surgery, the mini-open surgery is less invasive than open rotator cuff repair. The surgeon makes a medium-sized incision that allows some work to be performed in an arthroscopy procedure, eliminating the need to detach and re-attach the deltoid muscle. The remaining repair work can be achieved through the incision site without performing arthroscopy, with the surgeon directly viewing the affected tissues rather than looking at them through the camera monitor.
In an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery, the surgeon makes small incisions and inserts the arthroscopy instruments, such as a surgical camera and other necessary tools. This outpatient procedure is considered the least invasive rotator cuff repair surgery. It can be used if rotator cuff injuries are minimal or localized to one area. The camera projects images onto a video monitor, which the surgeon uses to guide him during the procedure. There is no need to detach or reattach any muscles to perform this rotator cuff surgery.
The bicep muscle of the arm attaches to the shoulder with a thick tendon at the top of the labrum. When this tendon is severed or detached, it is known as a “SLAP tear.” SLAP stands for “superior labrum anterior-posterior,” which essentially means that the connection between the labrum and bicep tendon has been severed on all sides – above (superior), in front (anterior), and the back (posterior).
An experienced SLAP repair surgeon can reattach the tendon and realign your shoulder to restore function to the damaged structures.
A SLAP tear repair or labral repair is an arthroscopy surgical procedure that includes small incisions to insert an arthroscope (a surgical camera) and surgical tools. The surgeon will remove any damaged tendon, cartilage, or bone tissues and drill small holes into the labrum to reattach the bicep tendon. The tendon may be anchored with surgical anchors and sutures, which your body absorbs within 6 to 12 months.
SLAP tear repair is typically an outpatient procedure with no hospital stay and minimal recovery time. Dr. Hibbitts may prescribe arm stabilization with a sling or brace for several weeks post-surgery. During your recovery phase, the doctor will advise you to see a physical therapist. Physical therapy will help you recover faster.
Traditional surgery may not fully repair and restore shoulder function following rotator cuff injuries and damage. A newly developed technique uses an InSpace Balloon for torn rotator cuffs, with excellent results. Best for massive rotator cuff tears, the InSpace device cushions and protects damaged tendons and muscle tissues, promoting healing and perhaps eliminating the need for more extensive shoulder surgery.
An orthopedic surgeon like Dr. Hibbitts can perform the InSpace balloon surgery as an outpatient procedure using an arthroscopic approach, most of the time. The surgeon makes small incisions and inserts a camera to guide their positioning of the balloon. Once in place, the surgeon fills the balloon with physiological water to reduce the friction that causes pain. Over the next 6 to 12 months, the damaged shoulder tissues can heal with the support and protection of the balloon, which harmlessly dissolves in the joint.
To determine if this revolutionary technique is suitable for your shoulder surgery, get in touch with a trusted and experienced surgeon today. Call Dr. John Hibbitts at Sunnyvale Orthopedics to make an appointment.
Since 2000, Dr. Hibbitts has gained experience as an arthroscopic shoulder surgeon, performing hundreds of successful surgeries that have restored patients to full health and activities. With the goal of becoming one of the top shoulder instability surgery providers near Dallas, TX, Dr. Hibbitts founded the Sunnyvale Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery Center.