Years ago, a traditional open procedure was the standard practice when a patient was presenting with shoulder pain that was not responding to conservative care. While this open technique had high success rates, medical experts were hoping to find a way to provide the same level of care without needing to create such a large incision to access and visualize the surgical site. This desire led to the advent of arthroscopic surgery.
Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is a minimally invasive operation that allows the surgeon to diagnose and treat certain shoulder ailments without needing to make a large incision on the patient’s body. Instead, a small opening is created through which specialized tools are inserted that will help the surgeon carry out the procedure. A thin, flexible tube with a small camera is fed through the opening, and this camera relays a live video stream to a monitor in the operating room, allowing the doctor to see specific structures without needing to create a large opening in order to visualize the site directly. We talk about some of the unique benefits offered by arthroscopic shoulder surgery in today’s blog.
Less Trauma
The most obvious benefit of arthroscopic shoulder surgery is the fact that the patient has to ensure less physical trauma from the operation itself. A smaller incision also means that fewer soft tissues need to be cut in order to access the surgical site. Less trauma to the skin and tissues means that you’ll have less pain following the procedure and during your recovery.
Can Treat Multiple Issues
While a shoulder replacement procedure cannot be performed using arthroscopic techniques, a number of shoulder problems can be corrected with a shoulder arthroplasty. Some of the most common conditions that can be treated using an arthroscopic approach include:
- Rotator cuff damage
- Bone spur formation
- Ligament tears
- Labrum repair
- Shoulder instability
This jack-of-all-trades procedure can help correct a number of different shoulder issues!
Low Risk Of Complications
A number of potential complications are also less likely to develop when arthroscopic techniques are used compared to open techniques. For example, both the risk of blood loss and infection are greatly reduced, due in large part to the fact that much smaller incisions are made on the skin.
Quicker Recovery
This benefit goes hand in hand with the point about less trauma, but it stands to reason that if you experience less physical trauma during the operation, your recovery time will be shorter compared to an open procedure. If your procedure can be completed using arthroscopic techniques, you can expect a quicker recovery than if you needed an open operation.
If you are bothered by shoulder discomfort and traditional nonoperative treatments have failed to provide relief, consider talking with a shoulder specialist to see if an arthroscopic procedure could be beneficial. For more information about arthroscopic shoulder surgery, or for help with a different shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
