Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery in Houston
The human shoulder is capable of a wide range of motion, but only when it is healthy. You might not even think about the many tasks your shoulders perform until you start to experience pain or stiffness that robs you of your ability to play sports, work, or find a comfortable sleeping position. If conservative care has not worked for your shoulder, it may be time to ask yourself whether you should undergo arthroscopic shoulder surgery in Houston.
What is Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery?
Arthroscopic shoulder surgery represents an important advance in the treatment of shoulder injuries and disorders. While conventional surgery might require the doctor to make a large incision that opens a substantial part of the shoulder, arthroscopic surgery requires only a few keyhole-sized incisions. This approach helps you recuperate from your surgery more quickly and comfortably.
The tiny incisions used in arthroscopic surgery permit the surgeon to insert elongated tools, including instruments to manipulate or remove damaged shoulder tissue using a device called an arthroscope. The arthroscope contains an illuminated camera that sends images to a video monitor. The surgeon performs the entire surgery using the video images as a guide.
Why Might You Need Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery?
Your shoulder joint consists of many components which must work together to articulate the shoulder. A problem with any of these components can leave your shoulder unusably stiff, weak, or painful. Examples of such problems include:
- Osteoarthritis – Wear and tear on the cartilage inside the ball-and-socket shoulder joint can cause pain and inflammation.
- Rotator cuff tears or tendonitis – These issues involve damage to the four muscles that mobilize the shoulder or inflammation and irritation of the tendons connecting them to the arm bones.
- Torn labrum – Sometimes the fibrous tissue surrounding the rim of the shoulder socket can become torn, making the shoulder unstable.
- Bone spurs or fragments – Bone overgrowth or loose shards of bone in the shoulder can cause significant pain.
Mild arthritis or soft tissue strains may require nothing more than rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, or other conservative treatments. However, if the shoulder cannot repair its damage or if the condition becomes worse, it’s time to see an arthroscopic shoulder surgery specialist.
What Should You Expect From Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery?
Arthroscopic shoulder surgery often requires less than an hour of actual surgical time. You may receive a combination of general anesthesia and a nerve block to numb the shoulder and arm. After cleaning and preparing the skin, a member of the surgical team may inflate the shoulder with fluid for greater visibility within the joint. The surgeon then makes the necessary incisions to insert the arthroscope and other tools.
Once the surgical team has a clear view of the damage or inflammation inside the shoulder joint, they can perform the appropriate procedure to fix the problem. For instance, your surgeon might repair or modify a torn labrum, use rivets to reattach torn muscles or tendons, and extract bone spurs or loose tissue fragments.
Even minimally-invasive arthroscopic surgery can require several weeks of recuperation time. During this period, you may need to take prescription painkillers, apply ice to control post-surgical swelling and keep the incisions bandaged. Your surgeon may recommend that you keep your arm in a sling for the first part of the recovery period.
As the shoulder starts to heal, your surgeon may prescribe physical therapy or another rehabilitation program to help it regain its former strength and range of motion. This program may center around gentle exercises performed either at home or at a physical therapy center.
Why You Should Turn to NW Surgery
Since this kind of surgery requires surgical expertise, you want to make sure you choose the best orthopedic surgeon in the Houston area. NW Surgery’s surgeons have led the field in this area since 1999. Our premier team of surgeons can perform many kinds of minimally invasive procedures, including arthroscopic shoulder surgery, other extremity surgeries, and spinal procedures. We can also administer epidural l steroid injections and ketamine infusions when other chronic pain management solutions don’t suffice.
Get the Solution to Your Nagging Shoulder Problem
If you believe you can benefit from arthroscopic shoulder surgery in Houston, talk to NW Surgery. Our distinguished team will get you in touch with a specialist to evaluate your shoulder, recommend the proper course of treatment, and then administer skilled surgical care if necessary. Contact us today to set up a consultation with any of our arthroscopic shoulder specialists.
