Athletes often get too engrossed in their games to focus on their bodies. This leads to injuries that damage their bones, muscles, and joints. Shoulder injuries are common among athletes and youngsters indulging in sports like basketball, football, lawn tennis, etc.
While certain shoulder injuries can be treated with home remedies, serious ones need immediate medical care. If you or any of your loved ones have been receiving serious injuries, it is important to look for the right medical attention without any delays. If you have been looking for comprehensive shoulder pain treatment in Gurgaon, Saqsham Ortho helps you relieve the pain and restore normalcy with state-of-the-art orthopedic care.
The orthopedic doctors at Saqsham are trained in shoulder arthroscopy and other technically advanced procedures to tackle serious shoulder injuries in athletes. Make sure you approach the facility without any delay for effective diagnosis and treatment.
If you are an athlete who can get reckless while playing, here is everything you should know about shoulder arthroscopy.
What Is Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery orthopedics use to diagnose and treat shoulder injuries and other relevant problems. Most cases of complications like rotator cuff tears and shoulder impingement are tackled with shoulder arthroscopy.
Being minimally invasive, shoulder arthroscopy involves making smaller incisions for treating patients, unlike traditional shoulder surgeries. Here, each incision made by surgeons is often the size of a keyhole. Surgeons insert a thin camera (called an arthroscope) through these incisions to diagnose and treat patients. As the camera moves inside the patient’s body, the pictures it captures are projected onto a video screen.
These images help orthopedic doctors to locate the problem and resolve it using compact surgical instruments.
Why Do Surgeons Perform Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Surgeons perform shoulder arthroscopy to treat shoulder injuries and health complications. This procedure is recommended either when a patient is not responding to non-surgical treatment or if the injury is too serious about being tackled without surgery.
Which Health Conditions Can Be Treated With Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Here are some of the most common injuries and health conditions that can be treated with shoulder arthroscopy:
- Rotator cuff tear
- Bone spurs
- Biceps tendon injuries
- Labrum tears
- Frozen shoulder
- Shoulder osteoarthritis
- Rotator cuff tendinitis
- Shoulder impingement
- Shoulder instability
If you have been dealing with any of these issues, make sure you approach the skilled and dedicated ortho doctors in Gurgaon for treatment.
What Happens Before Performing Shoulder Arthroscopy?
When you approach an orthopedic doctor in Gurgaon regarding your shoulder injury, they will conduct a physical examination and ask you relevant questions about your injury. Depending on the initial assessment, they will recommend suitable diagnostic tests. If you are on medications, the doctor may ask you to stop them a couple of days before the surgery.
Common diagnostic tests doctors perform before performing shoulder arthroscopy include chest X-ray, blood tests, and electrocardiogram.
What Is The Procedure Of A Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Here are the major steps involved in the procedure of a shoulder arthroscopy:
- Firstly, the doctor will ask you to be in a semi-seated position or lie down on one side.
- The surgical team may need to shave off any hair near the affected region and clean your skin using an antiseptic solution. Your arm may be placed in a holding device to keep it still.
- A healthcare professional will now inject a fluid into your shoulder to inflate your shoulder joint, making the doctor’s inspection easier.
- Now, the doctor will make a small incision in your shoulder and insert the arthroscope.
- The surgeon will move the arthroscope within your shoulder and see what is captured on a video screen. This allows them to locate the precise problem with your shoulder.
- If needed, the surgeon will make additional small cuts on your shoulder to insert miniature surgical instruments and perform the surgery.
- Once the surgery is performed and the issue is resolved, the surgical team will close the incisions with stitches and/or bandages.
What Happens After Shoulder Arthroscopy?
After shoulder arthroscopy, you will be advised to take care of your shoulder and refrain from making major movements right away. Arthroscopy is an outpatient procedure, and your doctor will send you home on the same day of your surgery.
However, it is important to follow the instructions your surgeon and physiotherapist give you after shoulder arthroscopy. Make sure you perform the right exercise as your shoulder heals and its motion is restored.
Is Shoulder Arthroscopy Painful?
Like any other surgery, shoulder arthroscopy causes pain to the patient. However, the surgical team will do its best to reduce the pain by discussing options regarding anesthesia.
It is important to note that shoulder arthroscopy often uses nerve blocks that are injected into your body that numb your shoulder. These nerve blocks also help you handle the pain after the surgery is performed. Your surgeon may also recommend general anesthesia, making you fall asleep during your shoulder arthroscopy.
The pain you feel during the recovery process is a natural aspect of healing. Make sure you consult your surgeon and/or physiotherapist to deal with the pain as your shoulder heals.
Are There Any Risks Or Complications In Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Almost all shoulder arthroscopy surgeries are completely safe without complications. However, if you nitpick the issues, here are a few major risks or complications patients may encounter:
- Blood clots
- Unexpected damage to nerves or blood vessels in the shoulder
- Excessive bleeding or swelling around the affected region
- Infection
The Final Word
These were some of the most important aspects related to shoulder arthroscopy that you should know as an athlete. If you end up injuring your shoulder, seek medical help without thinking twice. If it is too painful to move your shoulder or if it is locked, causing any delay may worsen the problem. However, if you want to stay away from these complications, make sure you play safe and stay conscious about your body at all times!
