Arthroscopy Treatment for Shoulder Tears
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed on the shoulder to treat muscle and tendon tears. This type of surgery is commonly used when other treatments, such as rest, physical therapy, injections, and medication, have failed to relieve symptoms after three months.
What Is A Shoulder Tear, Why Does It Happen?
Damage to the muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. This type of injury can be caused by trauma, rheumatic diseases, aging, and activities that put repetitive stress on the shoulder such as sports or manual labor. Falls and accidents can also contribute to rotator cuff tears.
Shoulder Tear Symptoms
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Pain of varying severity in the shoulder
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Weakness in arms and shoulder muscles
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Limitation of movement in the shoulder
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Difficulty keeping arms up (in overhead activities)
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Inflammation and/or aching sensation in the muscles
Shoulder Tear Treatments
For shoulder tendon tears, the initial treatment approach is physical therapy. Mild injuries may be treated with stabilization the shoulder for a few days or a week and cortisone injections. If the rotator cuff is torn, the condition of the tendon should be evaluated after physical therapy and the future treatment will be determined based on the results. If the tissue injury is not fully healed, it may recur over time and eventually surgery may become necessary.
Arthroscopic Treatment of Shoulder Tears
Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that enables the viewing of the shoulder joint's muscles, bones, and tendons. Using small incisions and a video-assisted camera, the procedure can diagnose and repair or replace damaged tissues causing pain or limited mobility.
The procedure can be performed under general or regional anesthesia, and post-operative pain is minimal compared to traditional open surgeries. The recovery process is relatively quick, with patients using an arm sling and undergoing physical therapy for an average of 3-4 weeks to regain full health, depending on the size of the tear and tissue quality.