Shoulder arthroscopy is an explorative surgery that is used to identify and correct any structural issues with the shoulder, particularly that of the rotator cuff. An arthroscope is the size of a pencil and is fitted with a light source and camera. It is inserted into the shoulder through tiny incisions. The camera sends a live video feed to a monitor for the surgeon to view. The arthroscope could also be fitted with tiny surgical instruments and be used to correct any condition of the shoulder. This procedure is less invasive than regular open surgery and hence causes lesser pain and has a smaller recovery time.
The procedure can be done under general or local anaesthesia. This will depend on the opinion of the surgeon and the anaesthesiologist. Once the area is numbed, the arthroscope will be inserted into the shoulder via a small incision. The shoulder arthroscopy will inspect the tissue of the shoulder which includes the bone, cartilage, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. If the problem can be identified and repaired, then a couple of more incisions will be made and the arthroscopy will correct these conditions.
There are several conditions of the shoulder that your surgeon will recommend a shoulder arthroscopy for. Some of the more common conditions include:
- Rotator cuff repair
If a problem with the rotator cuff is identified, then the arthroscopy will help resolve the issue surgically. The tendons will be brought together and attached to the bone with the help of sutures. Plastic or metal rivets will then be used to fasten the tendons to the bone. These rivets will not be removed later.
- Impingement syndrome
With the shoulder arthroscopy, any inflamed or damaged tissue will be cleaned out. Impingement syndrome is usually caused by a bone spur which with be removed in the surgery. In some cases the coracoacromial ligament will also be cut.
- Shoulder instability
In most cases, shoulder instability is caused by a tear in the cartilage around the shoulder joint. This cartilage is called the labrum. With shoulder arthroscopy, the surgeon will be able to access and repair the tear in the cartilage. Due to the instability, some ligaments might have also detached from the bone. The surgery can also reattach these ligaments.
Your doctor will recommend a shoulder arthroscopy for any structural condition of the shoulder that has not healed favourably with non-surgical methods. These methods include rest, physiotherapy, and medications.
A shoulder arthroscopy treatment in Bangalore is an outpatient procedure and you will be able to return home soon after the procedure is completed. Remember to bring along someone who can drive you back and also help you through the night after your surgery. You will feel some pain as your shoulder heals, at least for the first few weeks depending upon the extent of the damage and surgery. You can reduce the pain by icing the area or asking for pain medications as your shoulder heals. Your shoulder will be immobilised in a shoulder sling. The duration of using the sling will dependent on the extent of the surgery.
You can use a platform like PSTakeCare to search for the best shoulder arthroscopy surgery in Bangalore. The platform will help you compare various shoulder arthroscopy treatment options and also help you book doctor appointment.