The shoulder is a ball and socket joint that provides a large range of motion between the head of the humerus (ball) and the glenoid (socket). However, it requires strong stabilizers to keep the joint intact. Traumatic injuries and overuse can lead to tears in the rotator cuff (the stabilizing muscles), the labrum (the lining of the glenoid) and ligaments.
To perform a shoulder arthroscopy, your surgeon will make several small incisions around your shoulder to insert a small camera and specialized instruments.
Bankart repair for shoulder dislocations
Labral repair
Rotator cuff repair
Acromioplasty for shoulder impingement
Biceps tenodesis for biceps injuries
When the shoulder dislocates, the ligaments and labrum can be damaged. If these structures do not heal appropriately, the shoulder can remain unstable. A Bankart repair is a procedure that repairs the torn labrum in the front of the glenoid using sutures. This prevents the humeral head from dislocating forward on the glenoid.
When the shoulder dislocates, the ligaments and labrum can be damaged. If these structures do not heal appropriately, the shoulder can remain unstable. A Bankart repair is a procedure that repairs the torn labrum in the front of the glenoid using sutures. This prevents the humeral head from dislocating forward on the glenoid.
The lining of the shoulder socket can tear from an acute injury, a dislocation, or overuse. These tears are repaired arthroscopically with sutures.
Depending on what repairs are required, about 1-2 hours.
The rotator cuff consists of four muscles that contain the head of the humerus in the glenoid. These muscles can be torn from an acute injury or overuse. Typically these injuries present with pain and some patients may note weakness with certain movements. A rotator cuff repair is performed arthroscopically to place sutures in the torn muscles and reattach them to the humerus.
The biceps is a muscle in the upper arm with two tendons (the long and short heads) that originate in the shoulder. The long head crosses over the shoulder joint and may be damaged from an acute injury, overuse, or impingement under the acromion. To alleviate symptoms, your surgeon may recommend a biceps tenodesis where the long head of the biceps is cut from its insertion on the scapula and reattached to the upper humerus.
The acromion is an extension of the shoulder blade (scapula) that curves over the shoulder and connects with the collar bone (clavicle). The acromion may be abnormally shaped, narrowing the space in the joint and causing impingement of the rotator cuff.
An acromioplasty is an arthroscopic procedure where the under surface of the acromion is shaved to relieve impingement on the rotator cuff.
Depending on the surgery, it will take 3-6 months to recover from an arthroscopic shoulder procedure.
Your questions and concerns have most likely been asked and answered in our support group. We provide you with reliable patient education and resources to help you throughout this life-changing process.
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