Recovery after shoulder arthroscopy

Shoulder arthroscopy refers to a modern technique of minimally invasive surgery, during which the operation is performed through small incisions. It allows the therapy to be carried out in such a way that the lesions at the sites of surgical intervention are significantly reduced, and the rehabilitation time after arthroscopy of the shoulder joint is much faster.

Causes of shoulder pain

A variety of injuries and lesions of the joint and shoulder lead to the loss of working capacity of the upper limbs and significant pain. Pain in the shoulder joint occurs when bile ducts are damaged, blood circulation failures and osteochondrosis. The main methods of examination are magnetic resonance imaging and x-rays of the shoulder and joint.

The most likely prerequisites for the formation of painful sensations are as follows:

• syndrome of crushing the shoulder joint through the synovial bag - bursa;
• rupture or crack inside the rotator cuff;
• arthrosis of the clavicular and coracoid joints;
• damage to tendons in the muscle tissue of the upper limb;
• unstable behavior of the joint of a chronic nature;
• affected articular joint with arthritis or arthrosis.

When a specialist properly characterizes the discomfort according to the indicated symptoms, this will help to accurately establish the diagnosis and prescribe effective therapy in time.

Surgical procedure

The main tool used in the exercise is the arthroscope, a device containing a small camera to visualize the joint and all the processes inside it on a magnified screen.

If, during the unstable behavior of the joint, it falls out, such manipulation is considered the only way to detect the processes occurring inside the joint. The imaging technique makes it possible to see the tissues in the articulation when cut and in fact the entire interior. In view of this, the doctor is able to accurately detect cartilage lining injuries, lesions in tendons and ligaments, and identify free bodies in the joint fluid.

Arthroscopy is not only the detection and diagnosis of dislocation, but also an effective method of rehabilitation. It is considered one of the most effective and harmless for patients, in fact, it does not have adverse side effects.

Usually, an anesthetic is selected depending on the degree of manifestation of painful sensations, but mostly local anesthesia is used. After the onset of the action of anesthesia, the doctor begins the surgical intervention itself. The whole procedure consists of the following steps: the specialist makes a small longitudinal incision, where the arthroscope is inserted, and therefore visualization is possible. Elimination of damaged tissues, if necessary, is done through a similar incision near.

The arthroscope can be used to perform the following types of surgery:

• during lesions and displacements of the ligamentous apparatus, a secondary fixation of the device is performed;
• during a comminuted injury and displacement, a secondary fixation is performed and the cartilaginous lining is cut with further polishing;
• when the tendon or ligaments between bone formations are pinched, the ligaments are truncated, further fixed and fused with each other;
• when there is damage to the rotator cuff, then initially it is arthroscopy and visualization of the damaged areas, then the cuff itself can be reconstructed (truncated and re-fused with the joint tissue);
• during the internal displacement of the composite joints, compression restoration and docking of bone formations in a common joint capsule are performed;
• when there is a fracture of the cartilage inside the cavity of the articular bag, fragments of cartilage tissue have entered, then they are eliminated and the pointed parts are polished.

Features of the rehabilitation period

The final rehabilitation after arthroscopy of the shoulder joint lasts for 6 months. At the preliminary stage, it is recommended to apply a bandage to the injured joint that will fix it. In addition, a course of physiotherapy is carried out. During the first week after surgery, cold compresses are applied to the damaged area. The limb is fixed with a cut-off bandage, which is changed after a month. In addition to the above, the patient is advised to do light physical exercises, the main purpose of which is to stimulate blood flow and maintain proper muscle condition. The warm-up begins simply: you need to bend and unbend the hand and elbow. These exercises should be done before the onset of pain. Swings and jerks, external twisting of the limb are prohibited.

Exercise stress

During recovery, it is important to correctly and timely conduct exercise therapy after arthroscopy of the shoulder joint, since the duration of the rehabilitation period directly depends on this aspect. The process itself provides for physical activity every day, carried out 4-5 times a day for 10-15 approaches. When there is a noticeable tension on the joint, swelling or manifestation of pain syndrome, the load should be reduced, it is necessary to tell the doctor about this. The warm-up should be carried out under the supervision of an exercise therapy specialist and taking into account the personal characteristics of the patient. Active physical activity can be started 2-3 months after surgery. At this stage of rehabilitation, it is allowed to use a block simulator, use rubber shock absorbers and weights. A good effect can be achieved if you do exercises carried out in the water. It is permissible to use special platforms, rubber balls or other accessories.

Benefits of shoulder arthroscopy

The main advantages that distinguish arthroscopy from any other open surgery on the shoulder are the following criteria:

• preservation of the integrity of the joint, since only a slight incision of the soft tissue is carried out;
• the scars from the operation are barely visible;
• recovery at the end of the operation no more than 3 days;
• pain sensations after surgical intervention differ in insignificant intensity;
• the patient is able to leave the hospital on the day of the operation;
• the risk of adverse consequences, if you follow all the instructions (disinfection, proper procedure with an arthroscope, etc.), is close to zero;
• the original movement of the joint will return much sooner than during open surgery.

Shoulder joint arthroscopy allows doctors of this specialization to raise the therapy of pathological processes of this joint to a qualitatively new level. Its main advantage is the minimal likelihood of infection during the surgical intervention. Previously, in order to achieve the desired results, specialists made an incision of at least 15-20 cm. In addition, this technique is 100% reliable, since it makes it possible to detect all diseases of the joints during one operation.