4 Questions to Ask About Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

The Southern Sports Medicine Institute is a well-established medical practice that specializes in sports medicine and orthopedics, including arthroscopic shoulder surgery. This advanced surgical technique offers a minimally invasive approach to diagnosing and treating various shoulder conditions and injuries.

Our expert surgeons use an arthroscope, a small camera that provides a magnified image of the shoulder structure, to guide small surgical instruments. This approach requires only small incisions, significantly reducing the damage to surrounding tissues and leading to less pain, less bleeding, a lower risk of infection, and quicker recovery times compared to traditional open surgeries.

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is performed to address a wide range of shoulder conditions, such as rotator cuff tears, labral tears, biceps tendon tears, impingement syndrome, frozen shoulder, shoulder instability, arthritis, and biceps tendonitis. They also use it to remove loose bodies or damaged cartilage and repair ligaments, tendons, or the labrum within the shoulder.

The effectiveness of this surgery depends on various factors, such as the patient’s health condition, the extent of the shoulder problem, and post-operative care and rehabilitation. While most patients experience significant relief from pain and improved shoulder function. It’s important to remain aware that the recovery process can take several weeks or months and requires a carefully followed physical therapy program.

At Southern Sports Medicine, we understand that shoulder pain and immobility can significantly impact your life. That’s why we offer arthroscopic shoulder surgery as one of our treatments. This minimally invasive procedure is often the best course of action when non-surgical treatments such as rest, physical therapy, or medications fail to alleviate the symptoms of various shoulder conditions.

Our team of highly skilled professionals can perform arthroscopic surgery to address a variety of conditions, including:

Rotator Cuff Tears: Damage to the group of muscles and tendons that provide stability to the shoulder can cause significant pain and reduce mobility. If the tear is large or if symptoms persist despite non-surgical treatments, we might advise arthroscopic surgery to repair or remove the damaged tissue and restore function.

Impingement Syndrome: This procedure can be used to remove bone spurs or other irregularities causing the shoulder bones to impinge on soft tissues, thereby relieving inflammation and pain.

Shoulder Instability: If recurrent dislocations or subluxations occur due to the structures surrounding the shoulder joint failing to maintain the ball attached to the socket, arthroscopic surgery can be employed to fix or tighten the compress ligaments and tendons.

Arthritis: In cases of arthritis of the shoulder joint, the procedure can be used to remove inflamed tissue and bone spurs, providing pain relief and improving function.

Labral Tears or SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior) Tears: If non-surgical treatments fail to improve symptoms of a labral or SLAP tear, arthroscopic surgery might be recommended to repair or remove damaged labral tissue.

Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis): For this condition, arthroscopic surgery can be used to remove scar tissue and release the stiff and painful shoulder joint capsule.

Biceps Tendonitis: The procedure can be used to remove inflamed tissue and repair the tendon that attaches the biceps muscle to the shoulder bone.

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is a service provided by Southern Sports Medicine Institute, a leading medical practice dedicated to the comprehensive treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Our team of highly skilled surgeons, who have extensive experience in minimally invasive procedures, is committed to delivering the highest quality of care to our patients.

Minimally Invasive: By utilizing arthroscopic shoulder surgery, our surgeons make small incisions rather than large cuts, reducing tissue damage and scarring. This method minimizes postoperative discomfort, requiring less pain medication, and enhancing patient well-being and satisfaction.

Faster Recovery: Our patients enjoy a quicker recovery time with arthroscopic shoulder surgery. This is essential for our patients, many of whom are athletes or individuals whose jobs require physical labor. At Southern Sports Medicine Institute, we understand the importance of returning to your regular activities as soon as possible.

Enhanced Visualization and Accuracy: Our use of an arthroscope during surgery allows for clear, magnified visualization of the shoulder joint. This precise method reduces the risk of complications and promotes a more accurate diagnosis, ensuring our patients receive the most effective treatment.

Joint Preservation: Our goal is to preserve joint anatomy and range of motion. By using arthroscopic techniques, our surgeons avoid extensive incisions, minimizing damage to surrounding tissues and ligaments and promoting joint stability and function.

Reduced Blood Loss and Infection Risk: The advanced instrumentation used in arthroscopic surgery at Southern Sports Medicine Institute reduces both blood loss and the risk of infection, further improving surgical outcomes and patient safety.

Reduced Scarring: The cosmetic outcome of arthroscopic surgery is often better than open surgery, a significant benefit for our patients concerned about the aesthetic aspect of surgery.

At Southern Sports Medicine Institute, we believe that arthroscopic shoulder surgery, with its many medical and aesthetic benefits, is an effective surgical approach for treating various shoulder conditions. However, the effectiveness of this procedure will depend on the individual patient’s condition and should be discussed with one of our healthcare professionals.

Southern Sports Medicine is dedicated to delivering exceptional orthopedic care that exceeds our patients’ expectations. One of our specialties is arthroscopic shoulder repair, a minimally invasive surgical procedure we often use to treat shoulder conditions such as rotator cuff tears, labral tears, and shoulder instability.

This procedure allows our skilled surgeons to repair torn or damaged tissues in the shoulder joint. Every patient’s recovery time varies depending on factors like the severity of the shoulder damage, the specific surgery performed, their overall health, and their commitment to the post-surgery rehabilitation protocol.

After surgery, our medical professionals will issue you a sling or immobilizer to help support your shoulder and limit movement throughout the first healing process. We’ll also prescribe appropriate pain medication to help manage discomfort.

The first few weeks post-surgery will involve immobilization and early rehabilitation. During this period, your shoulder will be immobilized to allow the repaired tissues to heal. Our therapists will guide you with gentle range-of-motion exercises to prevent stiffness and improve flexibility.

As your shoulder heals, the focus will shift to progressive rehabilitation to regain strength and mobility. This phase typically starts a few weeks after surgery and consists of active rehabilitation exercises suited to your unique needs and the type of repair performed.

The timeline for returning to daily activities and sports varies. Most patients see an initial improvement in their shoulder function within 2 to 4 weeks post-surgery and can resume light activities within this period. However, complete healing of the shoulder can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months, with more strenuous activities taking longer to resume.

By 6 months, most of our patients have regained near-full strength and function in their shoulders and can return to their regular activities. However, in some cases, particularly for more severe shoulder conditions or in older patients, full recovery can take up to a year.

At Southern Sports Medicine, we understand that recovery from arthroscopic shoulder repair requires patience and effort. We encourage our patients to follow their doctor’s instructions carefully and avoid overexertion during the healing process. With our experienced team guiding you through the rehabilitation process, you can expect to regain full function of your shoulder. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Gallatin TN and Nashville TN. We serve patients from Gallatin TN, Nashville TN, Portland TN, Hendersonville TN, Lafayette TN, Castalian Springs TN, Westmoreland TN, Hartsville TN, Cottontown TN, Old Hickory TN, Red Boiling Springs TN, White House TN, Goodlettsville TN, Springfield TN, Lebanon TN, Greenbrier TN, Bowling Green KY, Bethpage TN, Lavergne TN, Franklin TN, Hermitage TN and Mount Juliet TN.