Shoulder Arthroscopy Yields Good Results

Sophisticated Technology for Shoulder Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy is useful for various types of shoulder injury:

• Subacromial Impingement. This painful condition occurs when the acromion (a bony nob on the shoulder blade) rubs against the tendon and the bursa. Sometimes called swimmer’s shoulder, this causes the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles to become irritated and inflamed.
• Acromioclavicular Osteoarthritis. The acromioclavicular joint is where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the acromion, at the tip of the shoulder blade. This joint is the ‘bump’ that you feel at the top of your shoulder. It is prone to arthritis, and is especially vulnerable in patients who do overhead work (such as electricians).
• Torn Rotator Cuff Injury. In the case of a full or partial tear, the rotator cuff tendons are no longer securely attached to the head of the humerus (upper arm bone). Rotator cuff injuries occur to patients using overhead motions (such as pitching a ball) but also because of aging.
• Adhesive Capsulitis also goes by the more colorful term, frozen shoulder. When the shoulder capsule, which is a shallow socket that holds the shoulder blade, thickens and becomes tight, adhesions (thick bands of tissue) develop. While there are different stages of adhesive capsulitis, it’s recognized by the inability to move the shoulder– whether by the patient himself or with assistance.
• Chronic Tendonitis and Tears of the Long Biceps Tendon are indicated by pain in the front of the shoulder. The long head of biceps tendon is a long name for tendons connecting the upper end of the biceps muscle to the shoulder bones. These tissues can become inflamed or irritated.
• SLAP Stands for Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior. SLAP lesions occur with an injury to the top (superior) part of the labrum (fibrous tissue lining the socket that holds the head of the upper arm bone) where the biceps tendon attaches. SLAP may be caused by a fall with outstretched arm, lifting heavy objects, or overhead motion such as pitching a baseball.
• Shoulder Instability, where the head of the upper arm bone is forced out of the socket, is another common problem. In some instances, the dislocation is only partial; this is called subluxation. Dislocations tend to occur in the front of the shoulder.

Any of the above conditions may be treatable with arthroscopic surgery. Call our Orthopedics Clinic to have a medical evaluation and get started on your recovery.

For general information about arthroscopic shoulder treatment see the National Institutes of Health (NIH) web site.