Shoulder Surgery in Austin, TX — Dr. Benjamin Amis | ATX Orthopedics

If you are considering shoulder surgery in Austin, TX, Dr. Benjamin Amis at ATX Orthopedics brings fellowship-trained expertise to every shoulder condition — from rotator cuff tears to shoulder replacement.

When shoulder pain limits your ability to reach, lift, or sleep comfortably, the cause matters — and so does the surgeon you choose. At ATX Orthopedics in Austin, TX, Dr. Benjamin Amis, MD is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon specializing exclusively in shoulder and hand surgery. Dr. Amis completed an 18-month fellowship at the CV Starr Hand Surgery Service in New York City, one of the oldest and most respected hand and upper extremity fellowship programs in the country, and brings subspecialty-level expertise to every shoulder condition he treats.

Whether you are dealing with a torn rotator cuff, shoulder instability, a degenerative joint, or a painful AC joint injury, Dr. Amis evaluates and treats you directly — no nurse practitioners, no physician assistants. Every appointment and every surgical decision is made by your surgeon.

Common Shoulder Conditions Dr. Amis Treats

Rotator Cuff Tears

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that stabilize your shoulder and allow you to raise and rotate your arm. Rotator cuff tears are among the most common shoulder injuries treated at ATX Orthopedics. They can occur from a single traumatic event — such as a fall or lifting a heavy object — or develop gradually from repetitive overhead activity and age-related degeneration.

Symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include:

• Deep aching pain in the shoulder, especially at night
• Weakness when lifting the arm or rotating it outward
• Difficulty reaching behind your back or over your head
• A clicking or catching sensation with arm movement

Not all rotator cuff tears require surgery. Dr. Amis evaluates the size, location, and chronicity of the tear along with your activity level and goals. Many partial tears respond well to physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, and activity modification. When surgery is indicated for full-thickness tears that do not respond to conservative care, Dr. Amis performs arthroscopic rotator cuff repair — a minimally invasive technique using small incisions, a camera, and specialized instruments to reattach the torn tendon. Most procedures are performed as outpatient surgery at Pinnacle Surgery Center of Austin.

Shoulder Impingement and Bursitis

Shoulder impingement occurs when the rotator cuff tendons are pinched beneath the acromion — the bony arch at the top of your shoulder — causing pain and inflammation. This is frequently accompanied by subacromial bursitis, irritation of the fluid-filled sac that cushions the tendons. Impingement is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain, particularly in patients who perform repetitive overhead activities.

Treatment begins conservatively with physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and corticosteroid injection into the subacromial space. When these measures fail, Dr. Amis performs an arthroscopic subacromial decompression — removing the inflamed bursa and shaving the underside of the acromion to create more space for the rotator cuff tendons.

Shoulder Replacement (Total Shoulder Arthroplasty)

For patients with end-stage glenohumeral arthritis — often from osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis — shoulder replacement may be the most appropriate path to lasting pain relief and restored function. Dr. Amis performs both anatomic total shoulder replacement (replacing both the ball and socket with prosthetic components that replicate normal anatomy) and reverse total shoulder replacement (a design that reverses the ball-and-socket orientation, used when the rotator cuff is severely compromised).

The decision between anatomic and reverse shoulder replacement depends on the condition of your rotator cuff muscles, the pattern of arthritis, and your functional demands. Dr. Amis walks through the specific indications, expected outcomes, and recovery timeline with each patient in detail before any surgical decision is made.

Like all elective orthopedic procedures at ATX Orthopedics, shoulder replacement is performed at Pinnacle Surgery Center of Austin — an independent, physician-owned ambulatory surgery center where over 99% of our surgeries take place. Operating in this environment means no hospital inefficiencies, lower cost, and a team focused exclusively on orthopedic surgical outcomes.

AC Joint Injuries (Shoulder Separation)

The acromioclavicular (AC) joint sits at the top of the shoulder where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade. AC joint injuries — commonly called shoulder separations — typically result from a direct fall onto the shoulder or an outstretched hand. They range from mild ligament sprains to complete dislocations where the clavicle is visibly displaced.

Most low-grade AC joint injuries (Grade I and II) are managed nonoperatively with a sling, ice, and physical therapy. Higher-grade injuries with significant displacement may require surgical stabilization. Dr. Amis evaluates each AC joint injury individually and discusses whether operative or nonoperative management better fits your injury pattern, activity goals, and timeline.

SLAP Tears and Shoulder Instability

The labrum is a ring of fibrocartilage that deepens the shoulder socket and provides stability. SLAP tears — Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior tears — occur at the top of the labrum where the biceps tendon attaches to the socket. They are common in overhead athletes, throwing athletes, and patients who experience a sudden traction injury to the arm.

Shoulder instability, including anterior dislocations and recurrent subluxations, often results from labral tears and stretched or torn ligaments. Younger, active patients with recurrent instability typically benefit from surgical stabilization to prevent ongoing episodes and protect the joint long term.

Dr. Amis evaluates shoulder instability with a combination of clinical exam and advanced imaging (MRI with or without arthrogram) and discusses arthroscopic Bankart repair, SLAP repair, or in select cases, open stabilization procedures such as the Latarjet procedure for patients with significant bone loss.

What to Expect at ATX Orthopedics

ATX Orthopedics is built around a deliberate model of care: we do not employ nurse practitioners or physician assistants to drive patient volume. Every visit, every imaging review, and every surgical recommendation comes directly from Dr. Amis. This means your clinic is genuinely accessible — our surgical schedule is not booked out for months — and you are never handed off to someone other than the doctor you came to see.

Your first appointment will include a thorough clinical evaluation, review of any prior imaging, and a candid conversation about your diagnosis and options. If imaging is needed, Dr. Amis will discuss what he is looking for and why. If surgery is recommended, you will leave the office understanding exactly what procedure is planned, how it is performed, what recovery looks like, and what outcomes are realistic for your situation.

Shoulder Surgery at Pinnacle Surgery Center of Austin

When shoulder surgery is indicated, Dr. Amis performs procedures at Pinnacle Surgery Center of Austin, a dedicated outpatient orthopedic surgery center. Most shoulder procedures — including rotator cuff repair, subacromial decompression, Bankart repair, and SLAP repair — are performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you go home the same day. Shoulder replacement patients may require a short overnight stay depending on individual circumstances.

Pinnacle Surgery Center of Austin operates entirely outside the hospital system, which translates to significantly lower cost for patients — typically 40–60% less than the same procedure performed at a hospital facility. For patients with insurance questions or out-of-network coverage concerns, our team can discuss your specific situation.

Schedule a Shoulder Evaluation with Dr. Amis

If you have been dealing with shoulder pain, weakness, or instability and are looking for an experienced shoulder specialist in Austin, TX, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Benjamin Amis at ATX Orthopedics. Direct surgeon care. No mid-level handoffs. A practice designed to be accessible.

ATX Orthopedics
Austin, TX
Call: (512) 960-4590
Or use our online scheduling to book your appointment today.

Schedule Shoulder Surgery in Austin, TX with Dr. Amis

Dr. Benjamin Amis performs shoulder surgery in Austin, TX at ATX Orthopedics. All procedures are performed at Pinnacle Surgery Center of Austin — at 40–60% lower cost than hospital-based care.

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