Shoulder Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure performed to inspect and treat shoulder joint abnormalities. This procedure is performed with a help of a small fiber-optic video camera called an arthroscope, which projects the structures inside of the joint on a big video monitor screen which assists in the use of small surgical instruments inside the shoulder to correct and manage any abnormalities. This procedure is more beneficial than open surgery as it results in less pain, less joint stiffness, and shorter recovery time.
Shoulder Arthroscopy is an elective procedure.
This procedure is recommended when non-surgical treatment fails to relieve shoulder pain. The following shoulder disorders are treated
All the above-mentioned shoulder joint deformities can be caused due to the following reasons:
Conditions under which this procudure is not performed include:
Investigations that are done before the procedure include:
Preoperatively before undergoing a shoulder arthroscopic surgery:
Anaesthesia: Regional nerve block anaesthesia is administrated to numb the shoulder and arms. Anaesthesia is injected at the base of the neck or high on the shoulder.
Duration: Length of shoulder arthroscopic procedure depends upon the repair that is required to be performed.
The patient is placed in either a beach chair position or lateral decubitus position or depending on the type of surgery that needs to be performed the patient is placed in the appropriate position. The surgical site is prepped and draped in a sterile fashion. A fluid is injected into the shoulder to inflate the joint. This helps to view all the structures of the shoulder more clearly. A small incision of the size of a buttonhole is made on the shoulder for inserting the arthroscope. Fluid flows through the arthroscope to keep the view clear and control any bleeding.
The arthroscope allows viewing the inside of the joint on a monitor screen. Once the deformity is identified, small surgical instruments are passed through the other incision ports to correct the deformity. With the help of special instruments, shaving, cutting, grasping, suture passing, or knot tying, etc are performed to repair the shoulder joint. After the procedure, the surgical site is irrigated with saline water. The arthroscope and all the instruments are gently withdrawn. The incision site is closed with sterile sutures and the wound site is closed with a bandage.
Postoperatively after the procedure, the patient is kept under observation. After stabilization, the patient is discharged home.
Following discharge, the following instructions are to be followed:
Recovery from an arthroscopic procedure can be fast, but the shoulder joint would take several weeks or months to recover completely. The recovery pace is different for each individual. Some may recover within 2 weeks and resume normal activities whereas some take four to six weeks to heal and do so.
Other lifestyle changes that need to be followed after the surgery include:
Complications that are associated with this procedure are:
The overall prognosis of Shoulder Arthroscopy is good. Although the incisions are small in arthroscopy, this procedure helps to repair more extensive damage within the joint. Even though the full recovery takes several months and the healing process is slow, the outcomes of the surgery are successful.
Shoulder Arthroscopy is performed in a hospital setting. Depending on the extent of the repair, the individual might be discharged on the same day or may have to stay overnight in the hospital while under observation.
Orthopedics