Last month, many watched Green Bay Packers star Charles Woodson sustain an injury that forced him onto the sidelines of the biggest football game of the year – Super Bowl XLV. During a fairly routine defensive play in the second quarter, Woodson, a cornerback for the Packers, dove onto the ground, landed on his right shoulder, and fractured his collarbone.

While we certainly do not have inside information on Woodson’s particular injury, OSS surgeons routinely provide treatment for collarbone fractures, one of the most commonly injured bones in the human body – and can provide the following perspective on the typical course of such injuries.

What is a Clavicle Fracture?

The clavicle, or collarbone, is the most commonly fractured bone in the body. The vast majority of clavicle fractures are completely fractured or broken, rather than partially fractured (when a bone does not completely break apart). … read more

By Scott Ruhlman MD

Ski and snowboard season is in full swing and that means so are snow-related injuries! A basic understanding of the common injuries related to winter sports not only helps prevent such injuries, but also can allow you to positively identify an injury earlier, minimizing the potential for longer-term effects and/or disability arising from ski- or snow-related accidents.

Skier’s Thumb

Often called gamekeeper’s thumb, this injury occurs when a ski pole is held between the thumb and index finger during grasp – causing a severe stretching injury to the thumb during even a routine fall. Essentially, it’s a thumb sprain that stretches or tears the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb. … read more

The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons and muscles – supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. These muscles not only provide power to the shoulder, but also stabilize the shoulder joint, keeping the head of the humerus (upper arm bone) in place against the shoulder blade. Rotator cuff injury is a tear that occurs to one or more of these four tendons or muscles.

What are the Causes and Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injuries?

The two main causes of a rotator cuff injury are acute tears, caused by trauma such as a fall, and chronic tears which are caused by degeneration of the tendon over time. Acute tears are more noticeable because they result in immediate pain and you may experience a snapping sensation or weakness of the arm. You may have developed a chronic tear if you notice some or all of these symptoms: pain while working, lifting, or reaching over your head, pain when sleeping on the affected shoulder, or a weakness in your arm. Both chronic and acute tears can worsen if not treated properly. … read more