Your shoulder is the most mobile joint in your body — and the one most likely to pay for that mobility with pain, instability, or injury. When shoulder problems interfere with your work, your sport, or your sleep, the decision about what to do next should be made with a surgeon who treats shoulders all day, every day.
Dr. Steven Chudik is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon whose practice centers on the shoulder. He is a pioneer in arthroscopic shoulder surgery, has developed multiple surgical techniques, instruments, and implants currently in use by surgeons worldwide, and holds eight patents in orthopaedic innovation. One of his arthroscopic joint resurfacing techniques is available in Europe and is awaiting FDA approval in the United States.
Common Shoulder Problems
Dr. Chudik treats the full range of shoulder conditions. The most common problems fall into a few clinical categories.
Arthritis
- Glenohumeral Shoulder Joint Arthritis
- Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Arthritis
- Rotator Cuff Arthropathy
Pain and Inflammation
- Shoulder Impingement
- Internal Impingement
- Snapping Scapula
- Swimmer’s Shoulder
- Little League Shoulder
Instability and Dislocation
- Anterior Shoulder Dislocation and Instability
- Posterior Shoulder Dislocation and Instability
- Multidirectional Shoulder Instability
- Glenohumeral Shoulder Dislocation
- Acromioclavicular Joint Sprain (Separated Shoulder)
Tears and Soft-Tissue Injuries
- Rotator Cuff Tear
- Subscapularis Rotator Cuff Tear
- Superior Labrum (SLAP) Tear
- Anterior Bankart Labral Tear
- Posterior Bankart Labral Tear
Cartilage and Joint Surface Damage
Fractures and Trauma
Tendon Injuries
Other Shoulder Conditions
Common Shoulder Treatments and Procedures
Treatment plans are individualized and may be surgical or non-surgical depending on the diagnosis, the condition of the surrounding tissue, and the patient’s functional demands. When surgery is indicated, Dr. Chudik uses arthroscopic techniques whenever the clinical situation allows. Some complex injuries require open or combined approaches.
Featured procedures include:
- Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
- Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (RTSA)
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Arthroscopic Bankart (Labrum) Repair — Anterior, Posterior, Inferior
- Arthroscopic Bony Bankart Repair and Glenoid Reconstruction — developed by Dr. Chudik
- AC Joint Separation Repair and Reconstruction — developed by Dr. Chudik
- Superior Labrum (SLAP) Tear Repair
- Rotator Cuff Sparing Minimally Invasive Shoulder Resurfacing Replacement
- Superior Capsular Reconstruction
- Arthroscopic Capsular Release
- Revision Shoulder Surgery
Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery
Arthroscopy is a surgical approach performed through small incisions using a miniature camera and specialized instruments to diagnose and treat shoulder pathology. Dr. Chudik has developed multiple arthroscopic techniques, instruments, and implants because he saw gaps in the existing options and built better ones. Compared to open surgery, arthroscopy reduces disruption to surrounding soft tissues, minimizes post-operative pain and scarring, and supports faster restoration of function and mobility.
Not every shoulder problem is best treated arthroscopically. Surgical candidacy is determined after a thorough clinical evaluation, because every surgical procedure carries risk and the right approach depends on the specific injury.
When Surgery Is Recommended
Surgery is not the first option for most shoulder problems. Decisions are made based on clinical history, physical examination, diagnostic imaging, activity level, and functional goals. Conservative management — physical therapy, activity modification, targeted injections, anti-inflammatory medication — is appropriate for many conditions and is tried first when the situation allows.
Timely evaluation matters, though. Delayed diagnosis is the single most common reason correctable shoulder injuries become complicated ones. Rotator cuff tears enlarge over time. Unrepaired first-time dislocations lead to recurrent instability. Small labral tears can become chronic. If shoulder pain, weakness, or instability has persisted beyond a week or two, or if an acute injury was followed by loss of function, an evaluation is worth scheduling.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Chudik for Shoulder Care
Dr. Chudik has built his practice around shoulder and knee surgery for more than twenty years. He has performed over 500 procedures annually for more than two decades, holds eight orthopaedic patents, and has developed arthroscopic techniques now used by surgeons internationally. He is a US News & World Report Top Doctor in orthopaedics and has been recognized by Best in Illinois Magazine.
What that track record translates to clinically: experience with the complex cases — revision surgery, failed prior repairs, massive rotator cuff tears, recurrent instability with bone loss — that general orthopaedic practices refer out.
Shoulder Care in the Chicago Area
Dr. Chudik sees patients at four offices across the western Chicago suburbs: Westmont, Western Springs, Hinsdale, and Downers Grove. The Westmont office houses the Sports Medicine Injury Clinic with on-site high-field MRI and X-ray imaging, so in many cases diagnostic studies can be completed the same day as your consultation.
Request a Shoulder Evaluation
If shoulder pain, weakness, or instability is interfering with your life, schedule an evaluation. Call 630-324-0402 or request an appointment online. For work-related shoulder injuries, ask for the workers’ compensation coordinator.