Who is a Candidate

Shoulder arthroscopy is ideal for candidates with a painful shoulder condition that does not improve with nonsurgical treatment.
You are an ideal candidate for arthroscopy if you have:

• A torn or broken cartilage ring (labrum) or ligaments
• Shoulder instability or dislocation
• An injured or torn biceps tendon
• A rotator cuff tear
• Inflammation or a bone protrusion near the rotator cuff
• Joint lining damage
• Arthritis at the clavicle’s tip (collarbone)

Preparation

To ensure that you do not have any medical issues that need to be taken care of before your shoulder arthroscopy, your orthopedic surgeon may ask you to visit your primary care physician. Blood tests, an electrocardiogram, or a chest x-ray may be required to ascertain if you are fit to undergo a shoulder arthroscopy.
Before your shoulder arthroscopy, a more thorough evaluation may be required if you have particular health risks. Ensure your orthopedic surgeon knows about any drugs or dietary supplements you take.
Your shoulder arthroscopy will most likely be carried out as an outpatient procedure if you are healthy. Thus, you won’t have to spend the night at the hospital.

Surgery Details

A member of the anesthesia team will discuss all the options with you before the procedure. The shoulder and arm may be numbed during shoulder arthroscopy utilizing regional nerve blocks. This anesthetic is injected high on the shoulder or at the base of the neck. The nerves that regulate your arm and shoulder sensation are located here. A nerve block can be used as an anesthetic during surgery and to manage pain for a few hours following the procedure. Since patients may find it uncomfortable to remain still for the duration of the procedure, many surgeons mix nerve blocks with a little general anesthetic.

After Surgery

After the shoulder arthroscopy, the incisions will be stitched up and covered with a bandage. Most surgeons use the video monitor to capture images throughout the procedure to show you what they find and the repairs they’ve made.
If there is significant damage, your surgeon might need open surgery. Open surgery entails a significant incision to provide the surgeon access to your bones and soft tissues.

Home Recovery

After the Shoulder arthroscopy surgery, the recovery may require one to six months. For the first week, you’ll probably have to wear a sling. The duration may increase if you have extensive repairs.

• You can take medication to manage your pain
• Resuming your work or daily activities will depend on the nature of your surgery. It may last for a single week or several months
• You can benefit from physical therapy to get your shoulder moving and strong again