Shoulder Arthroscopic Surgery
With arthroscopic surgery, the surgeon works on the shoulder joint through tiny incisions. The arthroscope is pencil-thin and outfitted with a lens and a light source. Once it has been inserted into one of the incisions, the surgeon can see the inside of your shoulder on a monitor. Additional incisions are usually made during the surgery process to insert instruments needed to make repairs. The surgery is generally done as an outpatient procedure and may be performed under regional or general anesthesia.
Arthroscopic Surgery Repairs
Arthroscopic surgery can be used to smooth rough bone surfaces that may due to arthritis. As well, it can be used to repair joint instability. Normally, joint instability is associated with the ball portion of the shoulder joint having been dislocated from the socket, usually due to some injury or trauma. Also, arthroscopic surgery can be used to repair some rotator cuff tears. During arthroscopic surgery, the surgeon may reattach a tendon or bring the edges of muscles together. Also, impingement syndrome, the coracoacromial ligament may be cut and the under portion of bone shaved.
Surgery Procedure
After anesthesia is administered, the patient will be positioned for surgery. Typically, one of two positions will be used. In the first, the patient reclines as if in a lawn chair. In the second, the patient lies on his side with his arm in traction. The arm is cleaned, prepped and draped for surgery. Small incisions (1/2 inch to an inch) are made into the shoulder. The surgeon inserts small plastic tubes into the incisions. The arthroscope will be inserted into one of these tubes. In the other tubes, the surgeon inserts instruments specially designed to remove inflamed tissue, attach sutures to bone, or repair damaged tendons and tears. After all tools and tubes are removed, the surgeon closes up the incisions and wraps the area in a sterile dressing. The shoulder is then immobilized by a sling or immobilizer.
Tags: arthroscopic surgery, arthroscopic surgery surgeon, incisions arthroscope, inserted into, into incisions