Why do I need shoulder arthroscopy?
Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that repairs injuries using a small camera and precise surgical instruments.
Dr. Parsa may recommend arthroscopy to repair rotator cuff injuries or shoulder instability due to labral tears. Arthroscopic surgery also effectively treats biceps tendinopathy, an inflammation of tendons around the biceps muscles that arises when repetitive overhead motions lead to tendon degeneration.
What is a rotator cuff injury?
Your rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that surround your shoulder joint and keep your upper arm bone in place inside the shoulder socket.
Rotator cuff injuries are most commonly the result of repetitive overhead motions, such as in tennis and baseball. The risk of rotator cuff injuries also increases as you get older.
Dr. Parsa can repair rotator cuff injuries through arthroscopic shoulder surgery or a superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) procedure. SCR is useful in treating irreparable rotator cuff tears, reconstructing the tendons and muscles using a graft from another area of your shoulder.
What causes shoulder instability?
Your shoulder joint is made up of three bones: the shoulder blade, the collarbone, and the humerus. The head of the humerus rests in a shallow socket of the shoulder joint. Around the rim of the socket is soft, fibrous tissue known as the labrum. This labrum tissue provides stability, keeping the bone in the socket and providing you with a range of motion in your shoulder.
Shoulder instability is often the result of a labral tear that results from direct trauma to the shoulder, such as falling on an outstretched arm. You may also suffer a labral tear when trying to lift a heavy object. Tears can cause persistent pain, and you may notice a popping or grinding sound following an injury.
You may also lose strength in your arm and have a decrease in your range of motion.
What are the benefits of arthroscopic shoulder surgery?
Dr. Parsa makes small incisions in your shoulder and inserts an arthroscope, a slender device that has a camera and a light. She also inserts other surgically precise instruments to repair the affected ligaments and tendons and restore shoulder stability.
Arthroscopic surgery offers several benefits over traditional open surgery, including:
- Higher level of surgical precision
- Faster healing time
- Reduced risk of scarring
- Fewer complication risks
To learn more about the benefits of arthroscopic shoulder surgery, schedule a consultation online or by calling the office.
