Arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder is performed with a pencil-sized camera and several half-inch incisions to repair the torn tissue, remove bone spurs, and clean out inflamed tissue. During this procedure, the surgeon inserts a very small camera, known as an arthroscope, into the shoulder joint. By avoiding a large incision during surgery, patients will experience less pain, less joint stiffness, and often shorter recovery periods before retuning to work or play. (Many are sent home within a few hours of the procedure and usually wear a sling for a day or two only.) We may recommend arthroscopy if a patient has a complicated condition that doesn’t respond to treatment of a nonsurgical nature.
