How Long Does Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery Take in Gallatin, TN, and Nashville, TN

The purpose of arthroscopic surgery is to diagnose and treat issues within joints. The surgery involves making a cut in the skin and inserting an arthroscope, a small camera via a tube, to see inside the body and is generally considered a minor, minimally invasive surgery. If the surgeon is treating and repairing a joint, additional instruments will be used as well. During arthroscopic surgery, anesthetics are in fact used. The use of local, regional, or general anesthetics will depend on the patient’s condition and the specific reason for surgery. After the surgery, patients are able to leave the hospital within the same day as it is done on an outpatient basis. Keep in mind that it is in fact still a surgery with room for error and risks despite being very low and uncommon. Finally, most arthroscopic surgeries take roughly 30 to 45 minutes, but can vary depending on the complexity and severity of a condition or injury. 

It is very common for orthopedic surgeons to perform arthroscopic surgeries on the shoulder area as it is within the musculoskeletal system, their area of expertise. The most common shoulder injury that is treated with arthroscopic surgery is a torn rotator cuff. This commonly occurs when the muscles and tendons that hold the shoulder blade to the upper arm bone tear from strenuous, repetitive motion. As a result of this, the arm and shoulder feel very weak, immobile, and painful. Another common injury that arthroscopic surgery helps to treat is shoulder instability which occurs when the shoulder’s ball and socket joint is dislocated, stretched, or torn. The surgery helps repair the cartilage and ligaments within the shoulder that contribute to the instability. Arthroscopic surgery can also help treat shoulder impingement which transpires due to tendons within the rotator cuff compressing and pinching between bones. In this circumstance, tissue will likely need to be cleaned out, and the bones will need to be reshaped to prevent a recurring problem. In addition to the injuries listed above, frozen shoulder and arthritis are also able to be similarly treated with the help of arthroscopic surgery. With this lengthy list of conditions, you can be sure that.

While the thought of a surgery can indeed be stressful, knowing the step-by-step description of the procedure can be very reassuring for many people. First, anesthesia is used to ensure that the procedure is as painless as possible. The exact form of anesthetic will vary from person to person, and depends on the severity of the condition. Following the administered anesthetic, an incision is made into the skin and the tube carrying the small camera is inserted into the body. This is what aids the surgeon in diagnosing and treating issues within the joints. Small instruments are then used to shave, cut, remove, or repair damaged tissue, such as bones, cartilage, and joints. Once the treatment is complete, sutures are used to close the site of operation. Because this is a less invasive procedure, patients are generally able to leave within the same day.

The exact recovery time from arthroscopic surgery in the shoulder will vary for everyone, however, there are some general rules to follow to help speed up the recovery process. First and foremost, following your surgeon’s and doctor’s instructions are of the utmost importance as they provide you with personalized and specific advice for your recovery. With that being said, the short period following the surgery will likely consist of swelling and inflammation to the arm. To minimize this, icing and resting the arm for some time is advised and will help prevent long-term damage as well. If the swelling persists for a prolonged period of time, however, it is important to contact your doctor as it may be a sign of infection or another issue. Once the arm feels strong enough to move, it is advised to do light movements to keep the range of motion and potentially consult with a doctor about doing physical therapy. Taking this course of action can help the arm recover back to its original strength as quickly as possible.

For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations for you in Gallatin, TN, and Nashville, TN. We serve patients from Gallatin TN, Nashville TN, Graball TN, Castalian Springs TN, LaGuardo TN, Cottontown TN, and surrounding areas.