Shoulder arthroscopy for the throwing athlete

Athletes who throw subject their shoulders to repetitive stresses and to intermittent large forces that result in injury and consequent disability. In decreasing frequency, the pathologic conditions most often found include glenoid labrum tears, partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, subacromial impingement, glenohumeral instability, biceps tendon tears, and posterior glenoid exostoses. This article highlights the role of arthroscopy in contributing to an accurate diagnosis of these lesions and discusses the operative arthroscopic techniques being developed to treat these disorders.