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Shoulder Arthroscopy

What is shoulder arthroscopy? An arthroscope is a small camera that allows your orthopedic surgeon to inspect and repair a shoulder problem without a large incision. Your surgeon uses the "scope" to look directly into the joint and make, needed repairs. The arthroscope is a narrow metal tube about as thick as a pencil. It has a powerful lens and a fiber optic light to magnify and illuminate the inside of the joint. With the "scope" your surgeon can examine the inside of your shoulder, pinpoint the problem, and make repairs all during the same operation.

The shoulder is designed to give a wide range of arm motion. This mobility however, makes the shoulder vulnerable to injury and other problems. The shoulder is basically a ball (humeral head) and socket (glenoid). The socket is shallow and might be thought of as more of a saucer. A soft tissue lip on the saucer (called the labrum) deepens the saucer to keep the ball centered in the socket. It is the surrounding muscles and ligaments that keep the shoulder in place. The muscles that give the shoulder stability and initiate motion are collectively called the rotator cuff. The top of the shoulder is called the acromion and the ball rotates under the acromion when the arm is in motion.

The shoulder has shock absorbers to allow for smooth motion. Under the acromion is a fluid-filled sac, called a bursa. In a healthy shoulder, the bursa acts as a cushion, reducing friction between the ball and the acromion. Cartilage covers the end of the ball and the socket, allowing them to rub together smoothly in motion.

Many conditions can lead to shoulder pain. Your surgeon can gain helpful information from your medical history and exam: your symptoms, the duration of pain, swelling, tenderness, muscle strength, stability, and range of motion of your shoulder. Special diagnostic tests can be used to determine if arthroscopy may be needed.

X-RAYS can identify arthritis, a dislocated or separated shoulder, bone spurs, and fractures.
An ARTHROGRAM is a x-ray with dye injected into the shoulder to detect damage to the rotator cuff. If the dye "leaks" out of the shoulder, you may have a rotator cuff tear. MRI (magnetic resonance imagining) is a magnetic "picture" of your shoulder with very accurate images of both the bones and soft tissue.

When is Arthroscopy Needed?

Loose fragments of bone and cartilage - Rough joint surfaces affected by arthritis or calcium deposits can be smoothed and loose pieces of bone and/or cartilage can be removed.

Damage to ligaments or tendons - A small tear in the rotator cuff allows the shoulder to become weak and unstable. These can often be stapled or sutured to help the joint function better. A larger tear may need an open procedure (see ROTATOR CUFF SURGERY).

Shoulder instability - The restraining ligaments and tendons of the shoulder, can get stretched out by injury or overuse. This can cause the ball to move out of the socket. To remedy this condition, the ligaments can be tightened with suture or shrunk with a heat probe.

Impingement - Wear and tear or overuse of the shoulder can cause bone build-up under the acromion or on the end of your collar bone (clavicle). The build-up reduces the space in the shoulder causing inflammation and pinching (impingement) of the rotator cuff. This can be removed, thereby restoring the space and relieving the impingement. This is called subacromial decompression.
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Waterford, MI 48328
Phone: 248-673-0500
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