One of the body’s most mobile and complex joints, the shoulder is an area you may not think about until something goes wrong. Shoulder pain can make a simple task, such as raising your hand, reaching for something on a top shelf, combing your hair or swinging a racquet impossibly painful. Whether you’re experiencing pain from a torn rotator cuff, a condition such as bursitis or tendonitis, an illness, a sports injury or an accident, the experienced team of shoulder doctors at the Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey (OINJ) can help you feel better fast.

So now you may be wondering: “How can I find a shoulder doctor or shoulder surgeon near me?” OINJ’s shoulder orthopedic specialists use the latest technology in our state-of-the-art facilities across Sussex County, Warren County and Morris County—including our new office in Morristown. You can rest assured that the Orthopedic Institute of NJ provides the best shoulder orthopedic care and shoulder surgery in the area.

At OINJ, we specialize in diagnosing, treating and providing preventive care for all acute and chronic conditions of the shoulder and cases of shoulder pain. These include rotator cuff tears, labral tears of the shoulder, fractures of the shoulder and collarbone, shoulder impingement (bursitis and tendonitis), dislocated shoulder/shoulder instability, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), osteoarthritis and more.

Serving patients from age one to 101, our nationally recognized physicians work collaboratively to evaluate your situation and develop a personal care plan specifically with you in mind. We offer a full array of orthopedic services to meet your needs, with a patient-first approach designed to get you feeling better quickly. OINJ physicians continually raise the bar when it comes to exploring innovative, less invasive treatments that help you get back on your feet in no time. Across our locations we provide both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic solutions, with sports medicine specialists who are dedicated to using cutting-edge techniques and equipment.

OINJ offers expert orthopedic care across multiple specialty areas, including the shoulder. Each Service Center features an on-staff, board-certified specialist in order to deliver the highest level of care for that specific area. Our Centers of Excellence include our Spine Center, Sports Medicine Center, Women’s Sports Medicine Center, Hip & Knee Reconstruction Center, Hand & Upper Extremity Center, Foot & Ankle Center and Rheumatology Center.

At OINJ’s Hand & Upper Extremity Center, our specialized physicians effectively diagnose and treat conditions of the shoulder, arm, elbow and wrist—as well as the associated nerves, ligaments, tendons, muscles and bones. Using extensive diagnostic testing and minimally invasive techniques, we will restore motion and function, relieving pain for adult, adolescent and pediatric patients of all activity levels. The center is headed

Below are some of the conditions treated and services that OINJ offers:

• Arthritis: Our knowledgeable rheumatology department to provide comprehensive pain management and treatment of arthritis and its effects.
• Entrapment Neuropathy: A minimally-invasive surgical technique known as carpal tunnel release may be performed in a short period of time.
• Fractures, Strains and Sprains: Our leading physicians create a customized treatment plan for common injuries to the arms, hands, shoulders, elbows and wrists.
• Nerve & Tendon Repair: Using the latest in minimally invasive technology, our experienced surgeons will diagnose and repair damage to the nerves and tendons.
• Rehabilitation: Our highly-trained, certified physical therapy team offers specialized services for hand therapy and rehabilitation.
• Sports Injuries: Our team specializes in treating injuries related to sports and high-level activity.

OINJ offers a comprehensive list of specialists for a range of orthopedic needs. Our Hand & Upper Extremity Center is led by the following specialists:

Christian J. Zaino, MD is a fellowship-trained Orthopedic Surgeon with sub-specialized training in hand, upper extremity, and microscopic surgery. He treats both children and adults with any orthopedic injury or ailment of the arm.

Dr. Zaino completed a formal fellowship in hand, upper extremity, and microscopic surgery at the University of Chicago. He also received training in congenital hand surgery at the National Children’s Hospital of Lima, Peru, and microscopic surgery at the Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minnesota. Most recently, he completed a traveling fellowship in complex wrist arthroscopy and reconstruction at the Hand Institute of Auckland, New Zealand.

While in Orthopedic Residency at SUNY Downstate / Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, he was chief resident and team physician for two Brooklyn high school football teams – one was his Alma Mater. He completed his surgical internship at New York University Medical Center / Bellevue Hospital in New York. Dr. Zaino also has numerous first-author publications and has given several national and international presentations.

Frank J. Corrigan MD is an Orthopedic Surgeon with OINJ and is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery with a subspecialty certificate in Surgery of the Hand. Prior to joining The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey, Dr. Corrigan was in practice in Binghamton, NY for three years. He holds membership in the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Dr. Corrigan resides in Long Valley, NJ with his wife and two young children.

A.J. Pfleger, PA-C is a physician assistant with The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey.

Andrew "A.J." Pfleger, PA-C is a Physician Assistant with The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey. He has been a member of the OINJ team since January 2017.

A.J. is responsible for office patient care, pre-operative assessments, post-operative care, and serves as a surgical assistant in the operating room.

Other top OINJ providers include:

Ashley J. Bassett, MD is a fellowship-trained sports medicine orthopedic surgeon specializing in injuries of the shoulder, elbow and knee. She graduated top of her class at Rutgers UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Following medical school, Dr. Bassett completed her residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program. She has a special interest in sports-related injuries of the female athlete and serves as the director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at the Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey.

Dr. Robert A. DeFalco, Jr. is an orthopedic surgeon with OINJ. He is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery. Prior to joining OINJ, Dr. DeFalco served on the medical staff for the Phantoms and Flyers hockey teams. He also served on the medical staff for Drexel University. Dr. DeFalco is a member of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the American Osteopathic Association. He has also lectured at national meetings and is published in peer reviewed journals.

Stephen Koss, MD is an orthopedic surgeon fellowship-trained in Sports Medicine with OINJ. Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Koss is an attending physician at Newton Medical Center, where he previously served as the Chief of Surgery in the Department of Surgery. Dr. Koss has been recognized as America’s Top Physician in Orthopedic Surgery for many years and is published in numerous orthopedic journals. He has also made presentations on a variety of subjects related to orthopedic care and sports medicine.

William Matthew Sayde, MD is an orthopedic surgeon at OINJ. Prior to this position, Dr. Sayde served as Assistant Team Physician for the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Nationals, and Morgan State University and Towson University teams. He also assisted the medical team during the Gore-Tex® Philadelphia Marathon (2012, 2013). Dr. Sayde has co-written peer-reviewed publications as well as abstracts and presentations on topics related to Sports Medicine.

Paul G. Teja, DO is an orthopedic physician at The Orthopedic Institute of New Jersey. He is Board Certified by the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.  

Prior to his position at OINJ, Dr. Teja was in private practice within the Kennedy Health System and served as a team physician for local schools in South Jersey. He is a member of:  The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, The American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, The Arthroscopy Association of North America and The New Jersey Osteopathic Association of Physicians and Surgeons and the American Osteopathic Association. 

Explore our complete list of OINJ physicians here.