Shoulder arthroscopy allows detailed examination of the shoulder and surrounding structures. It is often performed as part of another procedure around the shoulder.

Anaesthetic
General anaesthetic with an interscalene block – you will be asleep and the interscalene block make the arm ‘go dead’ so when you wake up there should be little pain.

Incisions
Small incisions will be made to place instruments around the shoulder to examine all areas. The number of incisions depends on the type of procedure performed.

Procedure
The gleno-humeral (shoulder) joint will be inspected first. The articular surface, ligaments, labrum, biceps tendon and the underside of the rotator cuff will be inspected. The subacromial bursa and the rotator cuff are examined through a separate incision.

Wound closure
Absorbable sutures are placed in the wounds just under the skin, combined with butterfly (paper) sutures. There are no sutures to be removed.

Dressings
Elastoplast dressings will be placed over the top of the paper stitches and an adhesive bandage over the top of this.

The wound and dressing should be kept clean and dry for 7-10 days.

Immediate aftercare
A sling will be placed on the arm and it may feel numb for the rest of the day.

You can go home when you feel comfortable and will be given instructions on next steps. Usually patients can leave the hospital the same day.

The exact rehabilitation will be decided at the end of surgery depending on the type of procedure performed. If no repair is performed (decompression, ACJ excision, release for frozen shoulder) then the sling is discarded usually after 24 hours. However if a repair is performed (stabilisation, labral repair, rotator cuff repair) then this will need to be protected for approximately 4-6 weeks.

Risks associated with Shoulder Arthroscopy
All surgical procedures have some element of risk attached. Those outlined below are the most common or most significant to be reported.

Precautions are taken against all complications

Continued pain - 5% in the majority of cases all the pain is removed by surgery, however occasionally a small amount of pain persists

Infection - Less than 0.1%. If this is superficial a short course of antiobiotics may be required, if the infection is deeper in the tissues then a washout may be required

Nerve damage - Less than 0.1%

Stiffness - 1%. The shoulder will often become stiff after surgery and this usually settles with time and physiotherapy. Very occasionally the shoulder can become very stiff and require further procedures