Shoulder arthroscopy
A shoulder that catches, dislocates, or will not lift, looked at from the inside and treated through small openings.
- Often under an hour. — your list may differ.
- Often regional or general. Confirmed on the day.
- Many arthroscopies are day-care.
- Desk work is often discussed in days to a few weeks. Sport takes longer.
What is it?
Shoulder arthroscopy treats selected cuff tears, instability, and impingement-type pain when physiotherapy has not been enough. A sling and a slow return of lift are part of the result, not an afterthought.
Symptoms, causes, who it may help
Symptoms
- Night pain on that shoulder.
- Weakness lifting away from the body, or a shoulder that has dislocated.
- Painful arc when reaching overhead.
Causes
- Cuff tear, dislocation, or a tendon that pinches.
Who it may help
- People who have already done a proper physiotherapy trial, unless the shoulder is unstable or the cuff tear is one that should not wait.
How it is assessed
- exam
- Range, cuff strength, and instability tests.
- xray
- Looks for arthritis, calcium, and the shape of the acromion.
- mri
- MRI or ultrasound, depending on the problem.
- clinic
- There is no confirmed shoulder-theatre photograph in the current set. The signboard drawing is the reference until one is added.
Treatment options
| Option | Without surgery | With surgery |
|---|---|---|
| First for many painful shoulders, including some cuff tears. | No operation. | |
| A fair trial is weeks, not two days. | ||
| When pain or instability remains. | Repair, tightening, or decompression as planned. | |
The procedure, step by step
- 01
Examination under the plan
The shoulder is re-examined. The operation matches the tendon or the labrum that is actually found.
- 02
Camera
Portals around the shoulder.
- 03
Repair or release
Anchors and sutures for a repair. A gentle release if that was the plan.
- 04
Sling
The sling protects a repair. Elbow, wrist and hand keep moving.
Recovery roadmap
You can: Home in a sling. Hand and elbow moves.
Avoid: Lifting the arm away from the sling if a repair was done.
Do, do not, and when to call
Do
- Sleep propped up if lying flat hurts.
- Move the hand every hour while awake.
Do not
- Do not remove the sling for convenience in week one.
Call the clinic
- Fever, a wound that opens, or pus.
- Calf pain and swelling, chest pain, or sudden breathlessness.
- A leg or arm that becomes numb, cold, or impossible to move.
- Pain that is far beyond the plan you were given.
Risks and honest expectations
- Infection, bleeding, clots, stiffness, and anaesthesia reactions are possible with any operation.
- A good result still needs physiotherapy. The operation is one part of the recovery.
- Stiffness, re-tear of a cuff repair, and persistent night pain are the honest shoulder risks.
Overhead strength returns slowly. A painless shoulder at two weeks is not the promise.
See it
Questions
Yes. Frozen shoulder is one of the shoulder problems Dr. Balagangadhara treats. The plan is decided after the examination.