About shoulder injuries

Shoulder joints can experience frequent injury due to their repeated use, our reliance on these key connectors, and their large range of motion. Shoulder injuries can cause pain and tenderness in the area, weakness, instability, and restricted movement.

Who is a potential candidate for shoulder surgery?

Patients who are candidates for surgery have typically exhausted medication treatment options without progress. The following shoulder conditions may require surgery to improve function:

• Chronic infections
• Calcium deposit formations that cause pain and restricted movement or stiffness during movement
• “Frozen shoulder”
• Repeated shoulder dislocation
• Other problems that do not promote healthy, normal use of the joint

What is arthroscopic surgery?

Arthroscopy is a procedure for diagnosing and treating orthopedic conditions. It enables the surgeon to directly view all parts of the joint by inserting a thin camera into the joint area to examine the bones and connective tissue and perform surgery.

Arthroscopy of the shoulder is performed when a patient has dislocated his/her shoulder, ruptured the rotator cuff, is experiencing inflammation, has formed calcium deposits, etc.

Shoulder arthroscopy can be used for a wide range of orthopedic surgery procedures, including: suturing (sewing), inserting anchors for fixing tendons and ligaments, fixing screws to repair fractures, removing foreign objects, etc.

How is the surgery performed?

During arthroscopy, the surgeon inserts a small, thin tube with a camera and light source into the joint area through a tiny incision. The camera can view the shoulder joint at high resolution, displaying the image on a screen. This enables the surgeon to view the area clearly, determine the extent of injury, and perform the required surgical procedure.

Three types of surgery

There are 3 types of surgeries that are performed, depending on the condition of the joint:

• Partial shoulder replacement: If the main injury is to the cartilage only
• Complete shoulder replacement: If the bones of the shoulder joint are damaged
• Reverse shoulder replacement: If the damage is very extensive, including the bones and tendons

Immediate recovery from the surgery is very quick; patients are usually discharged home the same day or the day after the surgery.

What are potential side effects or complications of the procedure?

Arthroscopy surgery is considered a very safe surgery, with very few risks and side effects. Apart from the low risks of undergoing general anesthesia, most patients do not experience complications after shoulder arthroscopy. However, as with any surgery, there are risks, most of which are minor and easy to treat, including local infection, bleeding, damage to cartilage or ligaments, infection at the incision sites, and blood clots.