What are the three types of shoulder surgery?

Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint that allows you to lift your arm and rotate it in many directions. It's made up of three bones – your upper arm bone (humerus), shoulder bone (scapula), and collarbone (clavicle). The shoulder joint is held together by muscles, tendons and ligaments. Sometimes injury, overuse or conditions such as arthritis can damage parts of the shoulder, making it difficult and painful to move your arm. When other treatments such as rest, physical therapy, injections or medications do not provide adequate relief, your doctor or shoulder surgeon in Pune may recommend shoulder surgery to correct the problem.

There are three main types of shoulder surgery, depending on which part of the shoulder needs to be repaired. Let's take a look at each.

1. Arthroscopic surgery

Arthroscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses small incisions and thin instruments with a tiny camera to view and repair the inside of the shoulder joint. It is often used to repair a tear of the rotator cuff, remove a bone spur or damaged cartilage, or repair torn ligaments.

During arthroscopic surgery, your surgeon will make a few small incisions around the shoulder. They will then insert the arthroscope, which is a thin tube with a camera on the end, to look inside the joint on a monitor. Other thinner instruments are inserted through different incisions to trim, repair, or remove any damaged tissues.

The benefits of arthroscopic surgery include smaller incisions, less pain and bleeding, and faster recovery time than open surgery. However, it may not be suitable for larger, more complex shoulder injuries or conditions.

2. Open surgery

Sometimes arthroscopic techniques are not possible or recommended, so your surgeon will need to perform traditional open shoulder surgery. It involves making a large incision to completely expose the shoulder joint and muscles.

Open surgery may be needed to repair severe rotator cuff tears, reconstruct torn ligaments or tendons, repair a dislocation that tears tissue, or replace the entire shoulder joint with an artificial joint (shoulder arthroplasty). Is.

Because open surgery is more invasive, patients typically receive a longer recovery period of several months. There are larger incisions that need to heal, more pain and swelling after the operation, and rehabilitation exercises are required to regain strength and range of motion.

However, open surgery gives the surgeon better visibility and access to the structures of the shoulder, so it may be the best option for complex injuries or conditions. It also allows procedures such as total shoulder replacement that cannot be performed arthroscopically.

3. Fracture Repair Surgery

If a bone in your shoulder, such as the humerus (upper arm) or scapula (shoulder blade), is broken, you may need fracture repair surgery. This procedure uses plates, screws, pins, or rods to put the broken pieces of bone back into proper alignment and stabilize them so they can heal.

Fractures are usually repaired through open surgery by making an incision over the broken bone. The bone fragments are put back together and held in place with hardware while your body rebuilds new bone over several months.

The type of repair and surgical approach depend on the location and severity of the fracture. A displaced fracture may require open surgery to realign the bones, while a small crack can be repaired with a simple pinning procedure.

After surgery, you will need to immobilize the shoulder for several weeks to allow the bone to heal before you can begin physical therapy. Complete healing may take several months, especially for severe fractures.

Choosing About Shoulder Surgery

If your shoulder is not improving with non-surgical treatments, your doctor may recommend one of these shoulder surgeries. The type of advice they will give will depend on your specific injury or condition, your age, activity level, and other factors.

Be sure to discuss all potential risks and benefits with your surgeon so you understand what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. With determination and hard work in physical therapy, you will be on your way to having a fully functional, pain-free shoulder once again.