Shoulder Arthroscopy
Shoulder arthroscopy treats through small incisions what once needed the joint opened. Rotator cuff tears are repaired, impingement relieved and instability corrected. The operation is short; the sling and the physiotherapy afterwards are the demanding part.
- Small incisions, magnified view
- Nerve block for pain relief
- Sling for several weeks after repair
- Physiotherapy determines the result
Stay
Day care or one night
Duration
45 to 90 minutes
Anaesthesia
General, often with a nerve block
About Shoulder Arthroscopy
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and the most dependent on soft tissue, which is why recovery is slower than patients expect. A rotator cuff repair has to heal to bone, and that takes months during which the arm is protected. Impingement surgery and stabilisation have different timelines, and each is explained specifically.
- A cuff repair has to heal tendon to bone, which takes months
- A nerve block gives excellent pain relief for the first day
- The sling protects the repair and must be worn as instructed
- Recovery is slower than most patients expect
Before you read on
Everything here is general information about shoulder arthroscopy. Whether it suits you, and how it would be done in your case, is a decision for your doctor after examining you.
Your consultant's instructions always take precedence over anything written on this page.
When is it recommended?
Situations in which a doctor may suggest shoulder arthroscopy.
- Rotator cuff tear causing weakness and pain
- Shoulder impingement not settling with physiotherapy
- Recurrent shoulder dislocation
- Frozen shoulder not responding to injection and physiotherapy
- Labral tears after injury
- Loose bodies or persistent catching
Procedure details
The usual sequence, from first consultation through to follow-up.
Assessment
Examination and MRI to define the problem, since cuff tears, impingement and instability are treated differently.
Surgery
Small incisions, a camera into the joint, and repair or release depending on the finding. A nerve block is usually given.
The first days
The nerve block gives good pain relief initially. The arm is supported in a sling, and you are shown how to manage.
Rehabilitation
Gentle movement begins early, with strengthening delayed until the repair has healed. The timeline depends on what was done.
How to prepare
What to sort out before you come in.
- Bring MRI films and reports
- Practise dressing and eating one-handed before surgery, as it helps considerably
- Arrange help at home, since a sling makes many tasks difficult
- Fasting from midnight as instructed
- Ask specifically how long the sling will be needed, as it varies by procedure
Recovery
What to expect afterwards, and roughly when.
- The nerve block wears off after 12 to 24 hours, so start pain relief before it does
- A sling is usually worn for four to six weeks after a cuff repair
- Gentle passive movement starts early; strengthening is delayed until healing allows
- Return to desk work in two to three weeks, physical work in three to six months
- Full recovery after a cuff repair commonly takes six months or more
Why choose Humayun for shoulder arthroscopy
Shoulder surgery disappoints when the rehabilitation timeline is not understood before the operation.
- The recovery timeline explained in full before you consent, because it is longer than most people expect
- Nerve blocks used for pain relief in the first day, which is when it is worst
- Physiotherapy in the same building, following a protocol matched to what was repaired
- Honest assessment of whether surgery or physiotherapy is the better option
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