Whether caused by sudden trauma or wear and tear over time, shoulders, much like the knees are joints in the body that experience their fair share of deterioration. You might feel a pain in a specific part of your shoulder or just have a limited range of motion, but shoulder surgery can at times be unavoidable. Luckily, technological advancements in medicine has made arthroscopic surgery easier than ever to be performed, but also when it comes to safety and immediate recovery time.
When your doctor performs your surgery arthroscopically, as opposed to the traditional way of opening you up, it can not only make it easier on your for recovery, but simplifies the procedure significantly. Because the procedure is now being performed through such a small opening, it is minimally invasive and preserves connective tissue that would have been otherwise cut open. What kind of shoulder surgeries can be performed arthroscopically?
Rotator cuff surgery
If your rotator cuff is torn, you would experience limited mobility and pain that is triggered by moving your arm up and down. Ideally, your doctor would have recommended physical therapy, icing, heating, and resting before settling on surgery. Only when these other options are no longer viable, does surgery become an option. During the surgery, your orthopedic surgeon will most likely be aiming to reattach your tendon that was previously torn to your upper arm bone.
Bone spur repair
In this type of surgery, your ortho would make small incisions in order to go into your bone area to remove a bone spur. A bone spur is a bony growth on top of your bone, which can be very painful. Bone spurs can occur after osteoarthritis has caused the cartilage to wear down, and bone on bone friction causes the bone to warp and grow differently.
Ligament repair
Your ligaments are what essentially hold your shoulder in place and keep it stable for all the movement. If your ligaments are torn, you might feel pain or instability when moving your shoulder. Through the arthroscopic procedure, your doctor will reattach your labrum, the torn area to your socket, to better improve your stability.
Cartilage removal
With all the wear and tear on your shoulder, torn cartilage can start to build up around your joint, causing pain but also limiting your mobility. In this arthroscopic procedure, your ortho would go in through a small incision in order to clean up all the cartilage that is hindering your movement.
If you are living with shoulder pain and suspect you need medical attention or possibly surgery, speak to the orthopedic professionals at Orthopaedic Associates of Central Maryland. With proper diagnostic imaging and a physical exam, they can decide on the best course of action for your shoulder condition. Call us at (410) 644-1880 to schedule your appointment for a full assessment today.
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