What it is
Arthroscopy is minimally invasive surgery. A small camera (arthroscope) displays the inside of the joint on a screen, and specialized instruments are passed through separate small incisions to treat what is found. Compared with open surgery, it generally means less disruption to the deltoid muscle and other soft tissue.
Procedures commonly performed arthroscopically include:
- Rotator cuff repair
- Labral repair and stabilization for dislocation and instability
- SLAP (superior labrum) repair
- Biceps tendon procedures, such as tenodesis
- Subacromial decompression for impingement
- Release of a stiff, frozen shoulder that has not improved with therapy
- Removal of loose bodies and inflamed tissue
Who it may help
- Pain, weakness or instability that has not improved with therapy, injections and time
- Catching, locking or a feeling that the shoulder slips
- A structural injury on imaging that is likely to benefit from repair
- Athletes and active adults who want to return to demanding activity
Before surgery
Most shoulder problems are diagnosed with a careful history, an examination and imaging such as X-ray and MRI (sometimes with contrast). During arthroscopy, the inside of the joint can also be seen directly, which confirms the diagnosis and guides the repair.
Treatment options
Non-surgical
- Most shoulder conditions start with non-surgical care
- Activity modification and a guided physical therapy program
- Anti-inflammatory medication when appropriate
- A corticosteroid injection in selected cases
Surgical
- Arthroscopic repair of torn tendons or labrum using sutures and small anchors.
- Arthroscopic debridement or decompression to remove inflamed tissue or bone spurs.
- Some problems are better treated with open surgery, or a combination of both. The approach is chosen for the injury, not the other way round.
Recovery
- Day of surgery
Most patients go home the same day. A regional nerve block is commonly used to keep the shoulder comfortable in the first hours.
- First weeks
Sling use depends on the procedure: a few days after some procedures, several weeks after a repair.
- Rehab
Physical therapy restores motion first, then strength, following a protocol matched to what was done.
- Full recovery
Ranges from weeks after a simple cleanup to several months or longer after a repair or stabilization.
Timelines are typical ranges, not guarantees. Recovery depends on the specific injury, the procedure, your health and your rehabilitation, and your plan is individualized.
Questions patients ask
Is arthroscopy less painful than open surgery?
Smaller incisions generally mean less disruption to soft tissue, but recovery depends mostly on what is repaired inside the shoulder.
Will I go home the same day?
Most shoulder arthroscopy is performed as outpatient surgery, so most patients go home the same day.
When can I drive?
Generally not while you are in a sling or taking opioid pain medication. Your care team will advise you based on your procedure.
This page is general patient education and is not a substitute for an in-person evaluation.