Your shoulder is a marvel of biological engineering, permitting a wide range of motion accompanied by a great deal of strength. When something goes wrong, pain and stiffness can quickly interfere with elements of your daily life that you may take for granted. The surgeons of Methodist Physician Group Orthopedic and Spine Center in Merrillville, Indiana, use arthroscopic techniques to diagnose and repair many shoulder disorders, finding the origin of your shoulder pain and getting your life on track. Call or click today to schedule a consultation.
Arthroscopic surgery uses a tool called an arthroscope; its tiny video camera can see inside and around joints in your body. One of the primary advantages of an arthroscope is that it gives your surgeon detailed views inside your body without the need for the large surgical openings necessary for unaided sight.
Arthroscopy permits detailed examination inside the rotator cuff, the muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. Without disturbing the tissue of the rotator cuff with major incisions, arthroscopic surgery greatly reduces the time and discomfort during recovery.
When your surgeon discovers damage with the arthroscope, additional small incisions can be made to introduce the tools necessary to repair the damage. Diagnosis and treatment can often occur in a single session.
Arthroscopic techniques permit your surgeon to fix tears to muscles, cartilage, and tendons, as well as removing damaged tissue. Some of the most common conditions repaired with arthroscopy are:
For this condition, inflamed or damaged tissue may be removed, and a particular ligament may be cut to ease the impingement conditions. Bony growths may also contribute to pain and inflammation in your shoulder, and these also can be removed using arthroscopic techniques.
These most often involve repairing tendons and fixing other torn tissue. Your surgeon may place small metal or plastic rivets, called suture anchors, to aid in these repairs. These anchors remain in your body and don’t need to be removed.
This problem often results from a torn cartilage called the labrum, which surrounds the edge of the shoulder joint, holding the ball and socket of the shoulder together. The labrum can be repaired arthroscopically, as can any damaged ligaments.
Any surgery involves some risk; however, arthroscopic techniques limit the risks compared with open surgery techniques. Complications from shoulder arthroscopy are typically minor and easily treated. Potential issues include infection, blood clots, excess bleeding, and damage to nerves or blood vessels.
