What Do You Need to Know About Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Sedentary lifestyles, prolonged desk operations, and lack of physical activity have made shoulder problems, including pain and stiffness, a routine. In most cases, non-surgical treatments like pain medications, physical therapy, or rest help relieve the symptoms. However, such options may not work in all cases, extreme ones or injuries.
In situations like these, doctors suggest surgery. But conventional surgeries can be painful and involve a longer recovery. Nevertheless, thanks to medical advancements that have brought alternatives like shoulder arthroscopy for some conditions.
If you’ve heard about shoulder arthroscopy and want to explore its possibility in your case, you should consult a doctor. But before you see your doctor, here are a few essential aspects of shoulder arthroscopy.
What is Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery that helps diagnose and treat shoulder problems. It involves making smaller incisions (as small as a keyhole) than traditional surgery. The surgeon inserts an arthroscope (small camera) via a tiny incision in your skin. This arthroscopy projects pictures of the shoulder joint to a video screen. The surgeons look at these images to identify the injury source. Further, if you require a shoulder repair, surgeons use mini-surgical devices to restore the shoulder’s mobility.
Which Injuries Can Shoulder Arthroscopy Treat?
Shoulder arthroscopy can treat conditions including the following.
- Bone spurs
- Frozen shoulder
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Labrum tears
- Osteoarthritis
- Biceps tendon injuries
- Rotator cuff tendonitis
- Rotator cuff tears
- Shoulder instability
What Happens Before, During and After Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Shoulder arthroscopy requires you to prepare for surgery, undergo a particular procedure, and take the necessary post-surgery measures. Let’s look at all these factors.
Before Shoulder Arthroscopy
The doctor asks you about your health history and the list of medications you’ve been consuming. They may ask you to stop some medicines a few days before surgery. Additionally, they will provide specific instructions about how long you should stop eating and drinking before surgery. Some examinations like blood tests, electrocardiogram, and chest x-ray will also have to be done.
During Shoulder Arthroscopy
Here’s what happens during shoulder arthroscopy.
- You will sit in a semi-seated position or lie on your side.
- The surgical team will shave hair and clean your skin with an antiseptic solution.
- The team will place your arm in a holding device to keep it still.
- It will inject fluid into your shoulder to inflate the shoulder joint and make it simpler for the surgeons to see.
- The surgeon makes a small incision in the shoulder and inserts the arthroscopy.
- The arthroscopy projects shoulder images to a video screen.
- The surgeon refers to these images to identify the problem.
- Further, small cuts are made in the shoulder and tiny instruments are inserted.
- Once the surgery is over, incisions are closed. You may have stitches or small bandages, with a large bandage on top.
After Shoulder Arthroscopy
It is an outpatient procedure that takes less than an hour. Patients can go home the same day after an hour or two of recovery. The doctor will give you a pain medication. However, you will require someone to drive or ride you back home and have someone to accompany you throughout the night to serve the need for assistance.
What are the Benefits of and Risks Involved in Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Some benefits of shoulder arthroscopy include the following.
- Lesser risk of infection compared to traditional surgeries
- Shorter recovery time
- Less joint stiffness and pain than open surgeries
- Enables surgeons to diagnose accurately
- Minimized scarring
- Outpatient procedure
On the other hand, shoulder arthroscopy involves some risks, including the below.
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Excessive bleeding and swelling
- Blood vessel or nerve damages
Do you still have questions about shoulder arthroscopy? Visit us and get all your questions answered! Call us at +91 – 20 – 24261530 to book an appointment.
