When conservative medical care fails to ease your shoulder pain, it’s time to consider shoulder arthroscopy. At Texas Orthopaedic Associates in Dallas, Plano, Weatherford, Keller, and Fort Worth, Texas, the experienced team of orthopaedic surgeons perform shoulder arthroscopy to inspect, diagnose, and treat shoulder problems using a tiny surgical camera and small incisions. Don’t let your shoulder pain keep you from your active lifestyle. Call Texas Orthopaedic Associates today or schedule a consultation online to discuss your options.
SHOULDER ARTHROSCOPY Q&A
What is shoulder arthroscopy?
Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows the surgeons at Texas Orthopaedic Associates to evaluate your shoulder joint so they can find and repair the source of your pain.
The surgeons use an arthroscope when performing the procedure. An arthroscope is a thin tube equipped with a light and camera that allows your surgeon to see your shoulder joint without having to make a large incision.
With shoulder arthroscopy, your surgeon diagnoses the cause of your shoulder pain and repairs it simultaneously.
When do I need to consider shoulder arthroscopy?
You need to consider shoulder arthroscopy if you have ongoing shoulder pain despite trying other conservative treatments like anti-inflammatory medication, activity modification, and physical therapy.
The team at Texas Orthopaedic Associates may recommend shoulder arthroscopy if you have a shoulder condition they can repair with shoulder arthroscopy. Some of the arthroscopic procedures they perform include:
- Rotator cuff tear repair
- Shoulder labral tear repair
- Ligament repair
- Debridement of inflamed or diseased tissue
- Removal of loose cartilage
The team may also perform shoulder arthroscopy to treat shoulder instability (recurrent shoulder dislocation) or fix a bicep rupture at the shoulder joint.
What happens during shoulder arthroscopy?
Shoulder arthroscopy is an outpatient procedure that takes about an hour. Your surgeon reviews the details of the procedure at your pre-surgical consultation, so you know what to expect.
They may use regional nerve blocks and a light general anesthetic to block pain and minimize anxiety during the procedure. Your surgeon first makes a small puncture wound to insert the arthroscope and evaluate your shoulder joint.
Once they identify the problem, they make separate small incisions and insert the surgical tools they need to fix it. When complete, your surgeon removes the arthroscope and surgical tools and closes the incisions with stitches or steri-strips.
What can I expect during recovery from shoulder arthroscopy?
Recovery from shoulder arthroscopy is faster than traditional open surgery. However, depending on the extent of your surgery, complete healing can take several weeks or months.
You may need to keep your shoulder immobile during the initial healing process and then start physical therapy to restore mobility and strength.
Call Texas Orthopaedic Associates today or schedule a consultation online to learn more about shoulder arthroscopy and if it makes the right choice for you.