Shoulder arthroscopy is minimally invasive surgery (MIS) on the shoulder joint. Its advantages are small incisions (usually two to three holes less than 1cm), faster healing, faster recovery and return to daily activity for the patient. Usually the patient stays overnight in the hospital.

 

Who is really a candidate for a shoulder arthroscopy?

This question arises, because several times injuries and other pathological conditions of the shoulder joint can be treated conservatively. Sometimes, surgery is unavoidable and the patient should discuss with a qualified and experienced orthopedic surgeon whether shoulder arthroscopy is the best solution for definitive treatment of the problem.

 

What are the shoulder diseases that are treated arthroscopically?

• Injuries to the tendon of the rotator cuff muscles.

• Injuries to the tendon of the long head of the biceps.

• Degenerative lesions - subchromatic osteophytes.

• Shoulder instabilities.

• Rupture of the labial cartilage.

• Hymenitis.

• Presence of free bodies.

 

In more detail:

Arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff injuries is considered necessary either after an acute post-traumatic rupture ( acute tear ), or after chronic wear and degeneration ( degenerative tear ). It is also indicated in those cases where despite long-term conservative treatment there is no improvement in the clinical picture of the patient.

The tendon of the long head of the biceps protrudes through the shoulder joint. Its rupture, partial or complete, causes severe pain and difficulty in raising the forearm. Arthroscopy allows us to either reattach the tendon or move it out of the shoulder joint.

The formation of osteophytes, both intra-articular and subchromic, is the result of degenerative arthropathy of the shoulder and causes severe pain and restriction of shoulder movement. The removal of these osteophytes and the relief of the patient from the symptoms can be done arthroscopically, with great success and minimal surgical intervention (MIS). If left untreated, these lesions lead to rupture of the tendon structures of the shoulder girdle and restriction, or even complete elimination of shoulder movements.

Dislocations or subluxations of the shoulder (congenital or post-traumatic) are due to instability or loosening of the ligaments or the articular sac or detachment of the labial cartilage, usually its anterior part (Bankart lesion). Their final treatment is achieved arthroscopically by re-fixing these structures.

Other detachments of the labial cartilage, such as the upper anterior and posterior part (SLAP lesion), are repaired arthroscopically.

Finally, the removal of free bodies and the treatment of intra-articular inflammation is performed with great success, arthroscopically and on the shoulder, as in all large joints.

 

In all the above pathological conditions of the shoulder, if the conservative treatment does not bring the desired results and the symptoms persist, it is worth consulting your orthopedic surgeon for the arthroscopic treatment of your problem.