A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

Shoulder pain can make even normal everyday activities like reaching overhead, exercising or sleeping comfortably feel challenging, negatively affecting your quality of life. Arthroscopic shoulder surgery, a minimally invasive treatment option used to diagnose and treat many shoulder conditions, might be the next best step – especially if rest, physical therapy or medications haven’t helped you find relief. 

In this article, we’ll address what arthroscopic shoulder surgery is and the conditions it can diagnose and treat, consider the advantages of the procedure and explore what recovery from this minimally invasive treatment looks like. 

If you’re considering arthroscopic treatment for a shoulder condition, we encourage you to contact us. At the Raleigh Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, we’re experts in minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery. Our orthopedic specialists will provide a thorough evaluation and design a personalized treatment plan to help you find relief and get back to doing the things you love.  

What is Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery?

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat conditions in or around the shoulder joint. 

How it works:

• You receive anesthesia or a nerve block prior to the surgery. 
• During the procedure, several small incisions are made to access the shoulder. 
• We then insert a tiny camera called an arthroscope to project detailed images onto a monitor, along with small specialized surgical instruments. 
• Fluid is used to expand the joint for better visibility. 
• The arthroscope helps us identify damaged tissue, inflammation, tears and other issues.
• The surgical tools are used to repair these conditions. 
• The incisions are closed and bandaged. 

This minimally invasive procedure generally allows you to recover more quickly with fewer complications and less pain than with traditional open surgery.

The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you’ll probably be able to go home the same day. It typically takes 1–2 hours, depending on the repair required. 

What Conditions Can Shoulder Arthroscopy Diagnose and Treat?

Shoulder arthroscopy is used to diagnose and treat a variety of shoulder conditions caused by injuries, chronic overuse, aging or instability when conservative treatments haven’t provided relief.

We may recommend shoulder arthroscopy for:

• Rotator cuff tears
• Biceps tendon injuries
• Loose cartilage fragments
• Shoulder impingement and inflammation
• Shoulder instability and dislocations
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)
• Separated shoulder (acromioclavicular or AC joint separation)
• Labral tears including SLAP tears or Bankart lesions (the labrum is cartilage that helps stabilize the shoulder socket) 
• Arthritis-related damage

What Are the Advantages of Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery?

As previously mentioned, arthroscopic shoulder surgery is minimally invasive and uses smaller incisions. 

Advantages of this approach include:

• More precise diagnosis and treatment of shoulder conditions
• Less scarring and tissue damage 
• Reduced pain, swelling and bleeding after the procedure
• Lower risk of complications compared to open surgery
• Less post-operative joint stiffness
• Faster recovery times and quicker return to activity 

While you may be able to return home the same day as your procedure and experience reduced recovery time overall, full healing and rehabilitation still take time. 

What Can You Expect While Recovering from Shoulder Arthroscopy?

Recovery from shoulder arthroscopy happens gradually, in phases, and varies depending on the specific procedure. 

Immediately after surgery and for the first few weeks, you may:

• Wear a sling to protect the shoulder and support healing
• Experience mild to moderate swelling and soreness 
• Receive instructions for how to manage pain and swelling, such as:
  • Resting
  • Applying ice 
  • Avoiding lifting and other activities that place stress on the shoulder
  • Sleeping with the arm supported on pillows

Once healing begins, the next phase is physical therapy. Rehabilitation is considered one of the most important parts of your recovery. 

Physical therapy helps:

• Restore range of motion
• Improve flexibility
• Rebuild shoulder strength 

Length of recovery time varies by person, but the rehab process generally lasts for 3–6 months, and possibly longer for a major repair such as rotator cuff surgery.

For the best chance of a successful recovery:

• Follow postoperative recommendations closely
• Don’t return to strenuous physical activity too soon
• Keep your physical therapy appointments

Please reach out to us if you develop any of these potential complications post-surgery:   

• Fever
• Severe swelling 
• Excessive bleeding
• Drainage from incisions
• Numbness or tingling
• Pain that doesn’t respond to medication

Raleigh Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic Provides Expert Care and Treatment of Shoulder Conditions 

If you have shoulder pain or discomfort that limits your daily activities and conservative treatments haven’t helped, we encourage you to speak to us about whether arthroscopic shoulder surgery may be the right option for you. 

This procedure offers a minimally invasive approach to diagnosing and treating many common shoulder conditions, including rotator cuff tears, joint instability, chronic inflammation and other shoulder issues. 

Our orthopedic specialists at the Raleigh Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic have extensive expertise in arthroscopic shoulder surgery. We will provide a thorough evaluation and design a personalized treatment plan to help you regain comfort, strength and mobility, so you can get back to doing the things you love.

We invite you to contact us for an appointment today.