Nonoperative management with focused physical therapy, activity modification, and anti-inflammatory medication is considered for most patients after they are initially diagnosed with a cartilage injury or arthritis. Many patients may be a candidate for an injection (corticosteroid or other products) to reduce the inflammation and pain in the shoulder. When these measures fail to relieve pain and symptoms, surgery is often considered. There are a number of surgical treatments for cartilage injuries/arthritis in the shoulder, and these range from simple arthroscopic debridement, cartilage restoring procedures, or shoulder replacement. Ultimately, all decisions regarding treatment must be individualized to the patient factoring in variables such as activity level, age, and location, size, and severity of the injury.