Shoulder arthroscopy is surgery that uses a tiny cam called an arthroscope to take a look at or repair the tissues inside or around your shoulder joint. The arthroscope is placed through a little cut (incision) in your skin.
What is Shoulder Arthroscopy Surgery?
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and their tendons that form a cuff over the shoulder joint. These muscles and tendons hold the arm in the shoulder joint and assist the shoulder move in various instructions. The tendons in the rotator cuff can tear when they are excessive used or hurt.
You will likely get general anesthesia before this surgery. This suggests you will be sleeping and not able to feel pain. Or, you might have regional anesthesia. Your arm and shoulder area will be numbed so that you do not feel any pain. If you receive local anesthesia, you will likewise be given medication to make you extremely sleepy during the operation.
Shoulder Arthroscopy also known as SLAP repair work; SLAP lesion; Acromioplasty; Bankart repair work; Bankart sore; Shoulder repair; Shoulder surgery; Rotator cuff repair work.
During shoulder arthroscopy, the surgeon:
- Inserts the arthroscope into your shoulder through a small cut. The scope is linked to a video display in the operating room.
- Inspects all the tissues of your shoulder joint and the area above the joint. These tissues consist of the cartilage, bones, tendons, and ligaments.
- Repair works any damaged tissues. To do this, your surgeon makes 1 to 3 more small cuts and inserts other instruments through them. A tear in a muscle, tendon, or cartilage is fixed. Any damaged tissue is gotten rid of.
Your surgeon may do several of these treatments during your operation:
Rotator cuff repair:
- The edges of the tendon are combined. The tendon is attached to the bone with sutures.
- Small rivets (called suture anchors) are often used to help connect the tendon to the bone.
- The anchors can be made of metal or plastic. They do not need to be removed after surgery.
Surgery for impingement syndrome:
- Harmed or swollen tissue is cleaned out in the area above the shoulder joint.
- A ligament called the coracoacromial ligament might be cut.
- The underside of a bone called the acromion may be shaved. A bony growth (spur) on the underside of the acromion often causes impingement syndrome. The spur can cause inflammation and pain in your shoulder.
Surgery for shoulder instability:
- If you have a torn labrum, the surgeon will repair it. The labrum is the cartilage that lines the rim of the shoulder joint.
- Ligaments that attach to this area will also be fixed.
- The Bankart lesion is a tear on the labrum in the lower part of the shoulder joint.
- A SLAP lesion involves the labrum and the ligament on the leading part of the shoulder joint.
At the end of shoulder arthroscopy surgery, the incisions will be closed with stitches and covered with a dressing (bandage). A lot of surgeons take photos from the video display during the procedure to reveal you what they discovered and the repair works that were made.
Your surgeon may need to do open surgery if there is a lot of damage. Open surgery suggests you will have a large incision so that the surgeon can get directly to your bones and tissues.
Why the Shoulder Arthroscopy Surgery is Performed
Arthroscopy might be suggested for these shoulder problems:
- A torn or harmed cartilage ring (labrum) or ligaments
- Shoulder instability, where the shoulder joint is loose and slides around excessive or becomes dislocated (slips out of the ball and socket joint).
- A torn or damaged biceps tendon.
- A broken rotator cuff.
- A bone spur or inflammation around the rotator cuff.
- Swelling or damaged lining of the joint, often brought on by a disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Arthritis of completion of the clavicle (collarbone).
- Loose tissue that needs to be removed.
- Shoulder impingement syndrome, to make more space for the shoulder to move.
When Shoulder Arthroscopy Is Recommended
Your doctor may advise shoulder arthroscopy if you have a painful condition that does not react to nonsurgical treatment. Nonsurgical treatment consists of rest, physical therapy, and medications or injections that can decrease swelling. Swelling is one of your body’s regular responses to injury or disease. In an injured or unhealthy shoulder joint, inflammation causes swelling, pain, and tightness.
Injury, overuse, and age-related wear and tear are accountable for a lot of shoulder problems. Shoulder arthroscopy might ease painful symptoms of numerous problems that damage the rotator cuff tendons, labrum, articular cartilage, and other soft tissues surrounding the joint.
Possible Risks
Dangers of anesthesia and surgery in general are:
- Allergic reactions to medications.
- Breathing problems.
- Bleeding, blood clots, infection.
Threats of shoulder arthroscopy are:
- Shoulder tightness.
- Failure of the surgery to ease symptoms.
- The repair work fails to heal.
- Weakness of the shoulder.
- Injury to a blood vessel or nerve.
Before SLAP Repair Work
Inform your healthcare company what medicines you are taking. This includes medications, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.
During the 2 weeks before your surgery:
- You may be asked to stop taking medications that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), and other medicines.
- Ask your service provider which medications you need to still take on the day of your shoulder arthroscopy surgery.
- If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon might ask you to see your doctor who treats you for these conditions.
- If you smoke, try to stop. Ask your company for aid. Smoking can slow injury and bone healing.
- Tell your doctor about any cold, flu, fever, herpes breakout, or other health problem you may have before your surgery.
On the day of shoulder arthroscopy:
- Follow directions about when to stop consuming.
- Take any drugs you’re asked to take with a little sip of water.
- Follow guidelines on when to reach the health center. Make certain to get here on time.
After Shoulder Arthroscopy
Follow any discharge and self-care instructions you are provided.
Recovery can take 1 to 6 months. You will probably have to use a sling for the first week. If you had a lot of repair work done, you might need to wear the sling longer.
You may take medicine to control your pain.
When you can go back to work or play sports will depend on what your surgery involved. It can vary from 1 week to a number of months.
Physical therapy may assist you regain movement and strength in your shoulder. The length of therapy will depend on what was done during your surgery.
Recovery Time for Shoulder Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy typically results in less pain and stiffness, less complications, a much shorter (if any) health center stay, and quicker recovery than open surgery.
If you had a repair, your body needs time to heal, after arthroscopic surgery, just as you would need time to recover from open surgery. Because of this, your recovery time might still be long.
Surgery to repair a cartilage tear is typically done to make the shoulder more stable. Many individuals recuperate fully, and their shoulder stays steady. However some individuals may still have shoulder instability after arthroscopic repair work.
Using arthroscopy for rotator cuff repairs or tendinitis generally eliminates the pain, but you might not restore all your strength.
