Understanding Shoulder Arthroscopy Treatment

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) which is derived from endoscopy and can be used for diagnosing and treating skeletal joints that have suffered damage from multiple conditions. Similarly, shoulder arthroscopy is an MIS procedure developed for treating the shoulder joint, which has suffered an injury or developed a systemic disorder.

When is shoulder arthroscopy needed?

Shoulder arthroscopy is typically recommended for performing a biopsy on a shoulder to diagnose its condition and to treat shoulder conditions which haven’t improved by other non-surgical treatments. Shoulder arthroscopy is more effective for:

• Treating inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis, synovitis, or tendinitis
• Treating torn ligaments in rotator cuff caused due to overuse
• Removing bone fragments and cartilage pieces from a broken or arthritic shoulder joint
• Treating joint infections like septic arthritis
• Addressing undiagnosable causes of shoulder problems such as pain, swelling, stiffness, instability, locking, grinding, etc.

How to prepare for shoulder arthroscopy?

MIS surgeries require essential medical evaluation of patient’s past surgeries and conditions. Your ongoing medicinal prescriptions and allergies will also be taken into account during the medical evaluation.

Preop tests like a blood test, X-ray, EKG (electrocardiogram), etc. may also be performed to understand your body’s current state.

You’ll be given specific guidelines for your diet a day before the surgery, and you’ll also have to arrange for a ride to and fro the clinic as you won’t be able to drive after the surgery.

How is Shoulder Arthroscopy performed?

Shoulder arthroscopy can be performed under regional or general anaesthesia depending on what the surgeon decides is best in your condition.

The surgeon will make either one or two button-size small incisions over the part of the shoulder that is to be treated.

The arthroscope will be inserted from an incision, and a video feed of the target area of the shoulder will be achieved.

Now, the shoulder surgeon will use thin surgical tools to treat the shoulder parts through the other small incision whilst referring the video feed from the endoscopic camera.

Once the shoulder is treated, the incisions will be closed with a few sutures and surgical bandages.

Since shoulder MIS surgery is much evolved an intricate to perform, they are best performed by an experienced shoulder surgeon. And if you have a shoulder condition which needs prompt treatment from a shoulder surgeon, Mumbai is home to some of the top orthopaedic surgeons who specialise in MIS surgeries. Dr Pranjal Kodkani is one such top shoulderspecialist in Mumbai who is widely known for his joint prevention treatments and MIS surgeries for sports injuries. You can find more about his unique treatments on the Dr Pranjal Kodkani website.