Open surgical techniques in the athlete's shoulder.

Treatment of the athlete's shoulder is one of the greatest challenges facing the orthopedic specialist. Surgical procedures, and in particular, the open surgical techniques presented in this article, are always a last resort of treatment. The primary treatment is always nonoperative with a particular emphasis toward physiotherapy. In selected instances in which patients have failed rehabilitation, the techniques that are presented can achieve a relatively high degree of success if particular attention is paid to the specific indications, approaches, and details of each technique. Open surgical techniques for rotator cuff tendonitis, instability, and unusual problems in the athlete's shoulder are presented.