What is Shoulder Arthroscopy

Common Shoulder Problems:

Tendonitis, Bursitis and Impingement Syndrome are most commonly occurring shoulder problems these are nearly related to each other and also has the possibilities may occur together sometimes.

Tendons are the fibrous cords that connect muscles to bones, contraction of muscle pulls on the attached tendon which leads the bone to move. With the age the Tendinitis would be less elastic which indeed more inclined to injuries.

Bursa is a layer of fluid filled sacs which helps in smooth joint movement; it acts as a cushioning between the tension and the acromion. An inflammation is caused tissue inside the bursa, this inflammation makes the shoulder movement restricted, and we can expect this inflammation due to over use of the muscles near the shoulder or any injury.

is also a most common cause problem in shoulder seen in adults, sports people due to maximum usage of shoulder muscles. The rotator cuff movement becomes smooth due to bursa, but if repetitive usages may cause inflammation and the impingement of the rotator cuff tendons in shoulder causing pain and problems in movement, if left untreated might cause serious condition as rotator cuff tear.

There are some of the other common shoulder problems such as

• SLAP Repair caused due to labrum tissue tear, it is called Superior Labral Tear from Anterior to Posterior.
• Shoulder Dislocation is considered as the condition where the upper arm bone pops out of the cup shaped socket.
• Frozen Shoulder This describes as the stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint.

Signs to approach Doctors:

Normally many complaints about light shoulder pain which is recovered with the normal rest, which might have caused with the over exertion but this pain persists and the signs that you should not avoid to consult the Doctor are

• Difficulty to move arm
• Joint dislocation due to injury
• Regular Shoulder pain that occurs during night or while resting
• Swelling or bruising around the joint

What is Shoulder Arthroscopy?

In our new era, there is time constraint. Everyone are busy with their work schedule with the professionals and the workouts for the sports persons. This Arthroscopy is just a small invasive surgical procedure and the recover times is quite less. The patient would probably recover and start his/her normal routine in by 4-6 weeks depending on the type of pain. Arthroscopy is considered to be very safe procedure and complications are really uncommon.

Preparing before surgery:

Patient has to inform about all his medications, Doctors may stop certain medicines a week or some days before surgery. Patient must stop taking food or any fluid before 6 hours of surgery. Doctors might also ask patient to go for some gentle exercise days before surgery. Pain medication is prescribed before the surgery to keep it ready as they might be required after surgery if any discomfort. General procedure of check up to the patient is done to get assurance that the patient is fit for the surgery.

You can view the surgery on the monitor depending on the anesthesia doctors prefer to give.

Regional Anesthesia: This makes the patient numb near your shoulder so that patient does not feel anything near shoulder but the patient will be awake also will be able to watch the surgery on monitor.

General Anesthesia: This type of anesthesia gets the person into full asleep. If surgery is long hours then General Anesthesia is recommended.

How surgery done?

Doctors use a small arthroscope camera to examine and repair the tear tissue inside or around the shoulder joint. The arthroscope is inserted with the small incision in your shoulder, with this insertion doctors are able to have a closer look of the shoulder joint on the monitor and will be able to diagnose the cause. One he doctors gets the point he make one more cuts to insert the tool from another incision, both the tools are removed after surgery. The cuts are too small that one or two stitches would be enough to close the cuts. The cut can be closed with narrow strips or sterile adhesive tape.

The procedure takes approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours. Patients spend 1 or 2 hours in the recovery room. Arthroscope is like tube fixed to camera to view from inside. This is an outpatient setting specially done by Orthopedic Surgeon. Patient can get back home on same day after the procedure. Unlike to traditional surgery this Arthroscopy is more beneficial in below ways:

• It is a daycare procedure
• Patients recover within 4-6 weeks
• It is minimal invasive technique
• Arthroscopy includes less pain
• Fast recovery
• Less tissue damage
• Expecting infection after surgery is less because the incisions are too small
• Small scar
• Few stitches due to small incisions
• Arthroscopy is a safe procedure

Precautions after surgery:

• After surgery patient is allowed to rest in the recovery room until the anesthesia reduces, it would take almost 1 -2 hours. Doctors will have a close monitor on the patient till the patient completely gets conscious.
• Medication is prescribed for the pain relief .
• Ice pack is also recommended to reduce the pain.
• A sling is provided to keep your arm for a week or longer which will be instructed to the patient.
• Regular little exercise is recommended which Physical Therapist would share with the patient.
• Recovery from the shoulder arthroscopy can be 1 – 6 months.

Benefits:

• Less pain in comparison with the open surgery
• Faster recovery time.
• Significantly less complications
• Patient can be discharged on the same day, does not have to stay longer at the hospital.

Risks:

Every surgery comes with small factor of risk, but with the Arthroscopy surgery the risk factor and also complications are very less. If there is any such situation feel free to call up surgeon like

• Excessive bleeding
• Formation of blood clot
• Stiffness in the Knee
• Breathing difficulties

There are the chances patient might get infected because of surgery always call up surgeons in any of these conditions

• Redness in the surgery area
• Swelling
• Fever
• Drainage from the incision area after some days.

Food:

Food plays a vital role in any of the situation. After surgery patient has to keep a watch on the food intake, he need to have proper diet like

• Protein diet like Soya, Dairy products, Nuts, Fish, Meat, Eggs, Beans, Cottage Cheese, Poultry are all good source of proteins.
• Fruits
• Vitamin C helps to heal up really fast.

With all these a patient can recover from his surgery really fast and lead a normal life without any pain.