Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure to treat various shoulder conditions.
What is Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Why is shoulder arthroscopy done?
Diagnostic Purpose: In some cases, shoulder arthroscopy can be used as a diagnostic tool to evaluate and identify the cause of your shoulder pain. It can also be used to quantify instability, look at your cartilage inside your shoulder and assess why you may have limited range of motion. The arthroscope provides a detailed view of the structures inside the joint, including the cartilage of your humeral head and the glenoid (socket), the rotator cuff, any bony spurs above your shoulder joints as well as tendons.
Surgical Treatment: Shoulder arthroscopy can also be used for surgical treatment and repair of carious structures. Some common procedures performed arthroscopically include:
Rotator Cuff Repair: Repair of a torn rotator cuff tendon.
Shoulder Stabilisation: Surgical treatment for shoulder instability, such as labrum (cartilage) repair or capsular tightening.
Shoulder Impingement: Removal of bone spurs or and inflamed bursa in the subacromial space, which can relieve impingement on the rotator cuff tendons.
Release of a tight shoulder in cases of a frozen shoulder.
Removal of Loose Bodies or Inflamed Tissue: Removal of loose fragments, damaged tissue, or inflamed synovium within the shoulder joint.
Rotator Cuff Tear
Shoulder Instability
Shoulder Impingement
Frozen Shoulder
What are the advantages of shoulder arthroscopy?
What to expect with shoulder arthroscopy?
After your surgery, the small incisions are closed with removable stitches and adhesive strips. In most cases, a waterproof dressing is also used so you can have a shower during your recovery. Recovery times can vary depending on why you had surgery and what structures were repaired. You will usually need to wear a sling for a period of time and follow a rehabilitation program with your physiotherapist to allow maximal shoulder recovery by increasing range of motion, function and strength.