What is shoulder arthroscopy and why is it performed?

Shoulder arthroscopy is a surgical procedure where a thin tube with a camera called an arthroscope is inserted into the shoulder joint to examine, diagnose and repair any damage or injury one of the area of focus is your rotator cuff which is a group of tendons and muscles located around the shoulder joint. These muscles and tendons are responsible for the placement of the shoulder joint and its movement. When injured or overused, the rotator cuff can tear or become damaged.

Shoulder arthroscopy procedure is recommended to people who have a painful shoulder injury or condition that has not responded to nonsurgical treatment like rest, medication or physical therapy. The most common shoulder problems are age-related degeneration, overuse and injury. Shoulder arthroscopy is performed to relieve pain and discomfort caused by problems of labrum, articular cartilage, rotator cuff and other tissues surrounding the shoulder joint. Some common shoulder arthroscopy procedures are:

  • Repair of the rotator cuff and surrounding tissue
  • Repair of the labrum
  • Surgery for shoulder dislocation
  • Fracture fixation
  • Removal of loose cartilage or inflamed tissue

How is shoulder arthroscopy performed?

Before the procedure, the patient is sedated so that they are comfortable. The type of anaesthesia is decided by the doctor depending on the patient’s case. Sterile fluid is injected into the shoulder to inflate the joint and allow the surgeon to clearly view the area through the arthroscope. A small incision is made in the shoulder through which the arthroscope is inserted into the joint. The scope has a camera attached to its end which captures images and projects them onto a video screen for the surgeon to view. Small specialised surgical instruments are inserted through separate incisions to repair and treat any damage present.

Following the procedure, the patient’s arm is placed in a shoulder immobilising sling. After recovery, the patient is advised to undergo physical therapy to regain optimum motion of their shoulder.

What are the benefits of shoulder arthroscopy?

Compared to other open shoulder surgical techniques, arthroscopy is known to have several benefits, such as:

  • Minimal scarring
  • Improved motion
  • Fewer complications and risks
  • Decreased swelling and pain during recovery
  • Faster functional recovery and short downtime
  • Shorter hospital stay

Talk to one of our orthopaedic specialists today for more information on rotator cuff repair and benefits.

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