Arthroscopy of the shoulder joint - an innovative minimally invasive procedure

The procedure of arthroscopy allowed to bring the treatment of pathologies in the joints to a completely innovative level.

Arthroscopy of the shoulder joint allows the treatment to be performed in such a way that the damage in the area of ​​the procedure is significantly reduced, and rehabilitation after the procedure is much faster and easier.

Modern achievements and great successes in implantology allowed to carry out the operation on the most mobile joint of the human body - in the shoulder.

The main indications for surgery are damage of various kinds, which are accompanied by pain of varying severity and a significant limitation of mobility of the shoulder and arm.

What types of procedure offers medicine

In our time, the operation is performed on the following joints :

• knee;
• hip;
• ankle;
• ulna;
• shoulder.

In addition, there is also a procedure of a locational nature.

Indications for procedure

Typically, arthroscopic operations are assigned in case of :

• if there is instability in the joint, this is characterized by periodic prolapse and displacement of the joint in the joint bag, the so-called Bankart disease;
  impingement syndrome, that is, a pathologically wrong fusion of the joint;
• mechanical cuff damage, which softens movement in the joint.

Causes of pain in the shoulder

Various injuries and damage to the joint and shoulder girdle as a whole can result in a loss of the functioning of the hand and considerable pain. Also, pain in the shoulder can be characterized by lesions of the biliary tract, blood supply disorders and osteochondrosis.

The main methods of diagnosis include MRI and X-ray of the shoulder girdle and articulation.

The main prerequisites for the onset of the pain syndrome include :

• syndrome of compression of the shoulder joint synovial bag - bursa;
• tears or cracks in the rotator cuff;
• arthrosis of clavic and coracoid articulations;
• tendon damage in the muscle tissue of the hand( biceps, triceps);
• unstable joint behavior in chronic form;
• defeat arthritis or arthrosis of articular articulation in the shoulder.

Operation of the shoulder joint

The basic tool required for arthroscopy is the arthroscope , a device that contains an miniature camera for visualizing the joint and all processes in it on a monitor with multiple magnifications.

When, with unstable behavior of the joint, it fell out - this procedure is the only method that allows you to identify the processes that occur in the joint.

Unlike the "opening" method of the joint, the visualization method allows to see not only the tissues in the joint at the cut, but practically the entire internal area.

Thanks to this, the surgeon can diagnose with absolute accuracy the cartilage injuries, damage in the tendons and ligaments, and also find loose bodies in the joint fluid, etc.

Typically, anesthesia is selected depending on the severity of the manifestation of the pain syndrome, but in most cases, local anesthetics are used by injections.

After a confident operation of anesthesia, the surgeon proceeds to the procedure.

The whole process is as follows: the surgeon performs a small longitudinal incision into which the arthroscope is inserted, through which the visualization is performed. Removal of affected tissues, if necessary, is performed through a similar cut near.

The following operations can be performed with the arthroscope:

• , if the ligament apparatus( joint lip) is damaged and displaced, the device can be fixed again;
• with glossy lesions and dislocations, repeated fixing and cutting of the cartilaginous napkin can be made, followed by grinding;
• if there is a pinching of the tendons or ligaments between the bony formations, then the ligament is truncated, fixed and subsequently joined together;
• if there is damage to the rotator cuff, then first it is arthroscopy and visualization of the affected areas, after the cuff can be reconstructed( truncated and again strewn with articular tissue);
• with internal displacement of composite joints, compression restoration and docking of bone formations in a single joint bag are performed;
• if at a cartilage fracture fragments of a cartilaginous tissue have got into the cavity of the articular bag, then they are removed and polished the pointed fragments;
• with the rupture of the tendon can be performed excision and splicing, in some cases - fixation;
• if rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed, by means of arthroscopy the film can be removed from the intra-articular bag of synovitis;
• if there are pathologies or deformations of the cartilaginous pads, then it is ground and brought into shape;
• with bursitis, the bag can be opened, thickenings removed, and the cavity washed with antiseptic solution. Similarly, intra-articular fluid can be replaced.

Advantages of arthroscopy

The main advantages that distinguish arthroscopy from open surgeries on the shoulder joint are the following criteria for :

• , the integrity of the joint is maintained, as only a small incision of the soft tissues and articulation is performed;
• scars from the procedure are not noticeable;
• recovery after the procedure does not last more than three days;
• pain syndrome after surgery is characterized by low intensity and weakness;
• the patient can leave the medical institution on the day of the procedure;
• the probability of complications in compliance with all standards( disinfection, correct manipulation of the arthroscope, etc.) tends to zero;
• the initial mobility of the joint returns significantly faster than with open operations.

Reviews of specialists and patients

Practically all specialists of osteopathy characterize the operation as one of the most effective and safe .Effective implementation depends mainly on the experience of the specialist and his skill, so the procedure is entrusted only to the most experienced doctors.

The comments of the patients to whom the procedure was performed indicate that almost everyone is happy with the result.

As a rule, it is prescribed as an alternative, but those patients who underwent a procedure after an ineffective open-type operation speak of arthroscopic treatment and diagnosis as the only remedy that really helped.

Rehabilitation period

The procedure is characterized by rapid rehabilitation. In this way it differs from even inoperable procedures, such as the usual direction of dislocation.

But there are certain rules that should be followed.

Even if the patient is discharged from the clinic, the bandage should be removed only under the supervision of a doctor.

In the first week after surgery, it is desirable to wear a bandage that will allow the joint to remain at rest. Strengthening the recovery process can be achieved using physiotherapy( warming up, electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, etc.).

LFK after arthroscopy of the shoulder joint is prescribed only by a specialist.

Cost of arthroscopy and clinic with the possibility of

. Since the procedure can only be performed in a hospital, the costs include: stay in the medical center, the procedure itself, anesthesia, physiotherapy, medications, nutrition, etc.).

Also in the total cost is the use of disposable consumables( an individual flaw detection or hose-chamber is used, when replacing parts of the joint or prosthetic joint - endoprosthesis and fluid-prosthesis).

Thus, the price starts from 24 thousand rubles.

Cost of a set of consumables 20 thousand rubles.

For arthroscopy, it is enough to apply to a polyclinic at the place of residence, there will be diagnosed and given the direction for the procedure( preferential category).

In addition, has such well established private hospital facilities as "Your Doctor" and "EuroMed", "Yakovlev Clinic", whose branches work in almost all large cities of Russia.

Arthroscopy is the least traumatic way of carrying out operations on the shoulder and other joints. However, a visit to a doctor should not be delayed, hoping for the universality of the method. Timely treatment significantly increases the chances of success and reduces the period of rehabilitation.