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Shoulder Arthroscopy

What Is Shoulder Arthroscopy?

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Shoulder arthroscopy is a procedure used to examine and repair tissue around the shoulder joint after injury or illness.  Such conditions are extremely popular with athletes, manual laborers, and senior citizens. 

Patients receive general anesthesia for the procedure.  Making a small incision near the shoulder joint, the surgeon inserts an arthroscope attached to a video monitor.  Pumping a saline solution into the shoulder expands the joint for better visibility and helps to control bleeding.   

After examining the cartilage, tendons, and ligaments in the patient’s shoulder, the surgeon makes several small incisions to insert instruments that can repair the damaged tissues.  Once the shoulder arthroscopy is over, the surgeon drains the saline fluid from the shoulder, closes the incisions, and applies a dressing.   

Shoulder arthroscopy is preferable to open surgery since the recovery period is often shorter and the patient typically experiences less pain and fewer complications.  Patients usually wear a sling for the first week post surgery and experience full recovery within 1 to 6 months.  Many patients need to follow up the procedure with physical therapy to regain mobility and strength in the shoulder.  How long this physical therapy lasts ultimately depends on the extent of the shoulder repair.  Many patients also take OTC pain medication, but one should only do so with the doctor’s permission.
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