Shoulder Arthroscopy Surgery

Shoulder Arthroscopy Surgery, also referred to as "a shoulder scope," is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used by orthopaedic surgeons to treat various painful disorders of the shoulder such as rotator cuff tendon tears, cartilage disorders, shoulder instability, torn ligaments and bone spurs. An arthroscope is an instrument, thinner than a pencil (<5mm), that has a system of lenses, a light and a small video camera that allows your surgeon to visualize the inside of your shoulder joint.

Shoulder Arthroscopy Surgery
Your orthopaedic surgeon begins by making small incisions in your shoulder (<1cm in length). The arthroscope is inserted in one incision. Very thin surgical tools are inserted through other small incisions to repair and/or remove damaged structures and harmful debris such as bone or cartilage chips.

The camera sends images to a video monitor stationed by the operating table which enables the surgeon to guide the camera and perform the surgery with the inserted surgical tools. Thanks to the magnified views from the video camera, your surgeon can inspect all the tissues of your shoulder including the cartilage, bones, tendons and ligaments. This inside view helps your surgeon identify any problem areas and allows for any repair/treatment needed. Compared to traditional open shoulder surgery, shoulder arthroscopy allows for the treatment of shoulder problems via a “minimally invasive technique” and produces comparable, if not better, results. Arthroscopic procedures will decrease the time you spend in the OR as well as the amount of anesthesia you receive, improve post-operative discomfort as well as speeding your recovery.

Major Advances in Shoulder Arthroscopy
Orthopaedic surgeons have been performing arthroscopic surgery on a wide spectrum of painful shoulder problems since the 1970s. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), shoulder arthroscopy has made diagnosis, treatment and recovery from surgery easier and faster than was once thought possible. Every year, new instruments and techniques are developed that fine-tune the surgery even more.

Common Shoulder Arthroscopy Procedures
Arthroscopy is used successfully by orthopaedic surgeons to inspect, diagnose and repair problems inside the joints in the body. In the shoulder, repairs include:

• Rotator cuff repair – The rotator cuff is a network of four muscles that comes together as tendons to form a covering around the head of your upper arm bone (humerus). Bursas are fluid-filled sacs that protect the tendons of the rotator cuff and lubricate the shoulder so that you can lift your arm over your head. A rotator cuff tear or injury occurs when one or more of the tendons are torn from their insertion onto the bone. This can occur acutely from an acute trauma like a fall, or more gradually over time. Rotator cuff repair via shoulder arthroscopy repairs and reattaches the torn tendon(s) of the rotator cuff to their normal insertion. This type of injury is one of the most common shoulder complaints. Every year, over two-million people see their doctors because of a rotator cuff tear, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons  (AAOS) reports.
• Impingement/Bone spur removal – A bone spur is a bony growth on a bone which can damage and impinge on surrounding bones, ligaments, and tendons such as the rotator cuff. Bone spurs usually form in response to pressure, irritation, inflammation and/or stress on the bone for a long period of time. A bone spur is a result of the body trying to repair itself by building extra bone. Using minimally invasive shoulder arthroscopy surgery, your surgeon can go directly to the bone spur and remove it Bone spurs can also form because of arthritis, and can be removed by shoulder arthroscopy.
• Removal or repair of the labrum – The head of the upper arm bone (humeral head) rests in a shallow socket in the shoulder blade called the glenoid. A soft fibrous tissue (cartilage) rim called the labrum surrounds the socket and deepens it by up to 50% so that the head of the upper arm bone fits more securely. During arthroscopic surgery, your doctor examines the rim of cartilage (labrum) as well as the biceps tendon. Depending on the injury to the labrum, the surgeon may
  1. Debride and remove any torn pieces of cartilage
  2. Repair the labrum if detached using absorbable suture anchors
  3. Release and/or reattach the biceps tendon if the biceps tendon is your pain source
• Removal of inflamed tissue, loose cartilage – Arthroscopic shoulder surgery can be used to remove any inflamed tissue or damaged lining of the shoulder joint, and any loose tissue in the shoulder.
• AC joint resection – Shoulder arthroscopy can also be used for arthritic conditions of the shoulder. A common place to find arthritis is at the acromio-clavicular joint that connects your collar bone (“clavicle”) to your shoulder. The arthritis can be removed via this minimally invasive technique to allow for relief of your pain.
• Repair for shoulder dislocation – If you have had a history of shoulder dislocations or you find that your shoulder just feels “loose,” you may have instability of the shoulder. This is a problem that can utilize shoulder arthroscopy surgery to tighten the structures in your shoulder and create stability and prevent further dislocations.  

Most arthroscopic shoulder surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis and take less than an hour to complete. The length of your surgery will depend on what your diagnosis is as well as the true extent of your injury that is commonly determined during surgery and what repairs may be needed.

The multidisciplinary team of orthopaedic experts at North Shore-LIJ Orthopaedic Institute's Shoulder & Elbow Services in New York performs shoulder arthroscopy surgery as well as a broad range of nonsurgical and surgical treatments for conditions that affect the foot and ankle.

Rehabilitation Services
The Rehabilitation Network of the North Shore-LIJ Health System is dedicated to providing you and your family with result-oriented, comprehensive rehabilitation services. Our goal is to help you and your loved ones find relief from pain and get moving again after an accident, illness, injury or surgery. We’re your partner in a safe, healthy, more rapid recovery.