Shoulder Scope for Shoulder Impingement

Arthroscopic Surgery for Shoulder Impingement

IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME occurs when bony growths called spurs can pinch on your rotator cuff tendons causing pain and inflammation with shoulder activities.

Shoulder arthroscopy is surgery that uses a special camera called an arthroscope to examine or repair the tissues inside or around your shoulder joint. This procedures is recommended for shoulder impingement syndrome to make more room for Rotator Cuff tendons.

THE PROCEDURE: You will receive a block and general anesthesia before the surgery. This means you will be asleep and unable to feel the pain. During the procedure, the surgeon:

• Inserts the arthroscope into your shoulder through a small incision. The scope is connected to a video monitor in the operating room.
• Inspects all the tissues of your shoulder joint and the area above the joint. These tissues include the cartilage, bones, tendons, and ligaments.
• Cleans out damaged or inflamed tissue in the area above the shoulder joint. A ligament, called the coracoacromial ligament may be released. Spurs on the shoulder blade and collar bone are usually shaved off to make more space for the rotator cuff.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:
Recovery time following the arthroscopic procedure varies depending upon what is found and needs to be repaired during the surgical procedure. Most people fully recover and the pain they experienced prior to the surgery is no longer present. After the procedure, rehabilitation is necessary to strengthen the weakened muscles, which can take several months.