Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

What Is Shoulder Arthroscopy?

Shoulder arthroscopy — or arthroscopic shoulder surgery — is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat conditions and injuries in the shoulder joint. Damage to the rotator cuff tendons, labrum, articular cartilage, and overuse of your shoulder joints can result in a need for arthroscopic shoulder surgery. This procedure involves inserting a small arthroscopic camera into the shoulder joint. Once the camera is inserted, the doctor is able to examine and repair the tissue in your shoulder. Typically arthroscopic shoulder surgery allows for faster recovery times and reduced joint stiffness. 

Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery at Atlantic Orthopaedics

Your shoulder is capable of more motion than any other joint in your body, making it very susceptible to injuries. At Atlantic Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, we are proud to offer minimally invasive shoulder arthroscopy to anyone across the Seacoast suffering from a shoulder injury or condition. Whether you’re suffering from an acute sports injury, rotator cuff tear, frozen shoulder, or impingement, we can help you. Our New Hampshire and Maine-based team of board-certified sports medicine providers are dedicated to helping diagnose and treat your shoulder pain. As you transition into the recovery phase, our health partners at ProCare Physical Therapy will work with you to help fully recover from your surgery.

Benefits of Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

Patients who choose to undergo arthroscopic shoulder surgery rather than traditional invasive shoulder surgery commonly have a faster recovery time and less joint pain after the operation. 

Candidates for Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

The ideal candidate for arthroscopic shoulder surgery is anyone with a rotator cuff tear, a frozen shoulder, impingement, or any individual who fits the surgical criteria. If you’re suffering from shoulder pain and have tried other treatment methods such as rest, anti-inflammatories, or injections, our team of providers may recommend shoulder arthroscopy to you after completing an MRI or CT scan on your shoulder.

Recovery Time After Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

Patients usually leave the hospital a few hours after their shoulder surgery and have healed incisions within 3-5 days. All patients can typically expect to return to their daily activities within a week, but the full recovery timeframe is one to two months. During your recovery, our team will refer you to post-op Physical Therapy at ProCare. Here you will learn how to retrain your muscle groups, regain strength and restore joint movement safely without the risk of re-injury.

Arthroscopic Surgery Consultations

Please contact or call our offices at 603-431-1121 (Portsmouth, NH) or 207-363-3490 (York, ME) if you have questions or would like to speak with us about arthroscopic surgery. Our providers will discuss your pain and your goals with you directly to determine if this is the right treatment option for you.