Arthroscopic Shoulder Replacement

Posted On: 04-28-2015

What is Arthroscopic Shoulder Replacement?

Arthroscopic shoulder replacement removes damaged cartilage and bone in the shoulder and replaces it with parts made of plastic, metal, or ceramic for durability. This procedure is performed with a minimally invasive method that utilizes an arthroscope (a narrow tube with a video camera on its end) inserted through small incisions in order to guide the surgeon through the procedure.

Also Known As:

Minimally invasive shoulder replacement
Minimally invasive shoulder arthroplasty
Shoulder arthroplasty
Arthroplasty
Total shoulder replacement

Conditions Treated with Arthroscopic Shoulder Replacement:

Arthroscopic shoulder replacement can be performed to treat a shoulder injury, shoulder pain, or a stiff shoulder. It can also be utilized to treat arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulder.

Arthroscopic Shoulder Replacement by OrangeCountySurgeons

Non-Surgical or Other Surgical Alternatives to Arthroscopic Shoulder Replacement:

Non-surgical options can be attempted prior to arthroscopic shoulder replacement. These alternatives include pain medication, strength training, physical therapy and steroid injections. Surgical alternatives like shoulder fusion and open shoulder replacement may also be used instead.

Anesthesia with Arthroscopic Shoulder Replacement:

Arthroscopic shoulder replacement is generally performed under general anesthesia, which means that the patient is asleep and completely unaware during the procedure.

Potential Complications from Arthroscopic Shoulder Replacement:

The possible complications from arthroscopic shoulder replacement include infection, bleeding and a negative reaction to anesthesia. It is also possible for patients to experience a dislocation of the artificial shoulder or no improvement in mobility following the procedure.

Recovery from Arthroscopic Shoulder Replacement:

The complete recovery from arthroscopic shoulder replacement takes about six to eight weeks.