Arthroscopy is commonly used for treatment of various diseases of the shoulder including subacromial impingement, acromioclavicular osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), chronic tendonitis and partial tears of the long biceps tendon, SLAP lesions and shoulder instability.
Arthroscopy (also called arthroscopic surgery) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which an examination and sometimes treatment of damage of the interior of a joint is performed using an arthroscope, a type of camera that allows the doctor to view the site without the full incision.
At Covington Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, our clinic provides high quality shoulder arthroscopy procedures that can help you regain your quality of life. Many patients from the Covington, Metairie, and surrounding areas have come to our clinic to enjoy life again. If your condition no longer permits you to enjoy full shoulder movement and use, our arthroscopy surgery procedures we perform using an arthroscope may be the right treatment option for you.
The team at Covington Orthopedic and Sports Medicine recognises that not every patient is right for arthroscopy surgery, so it’s important for patients to have a consultation with a doctor to ensure this is the right choice. Dr. Kevin Darr is an experienced physician with decades of experience helping patients with their shoulder problems. If you are in the Covington, Metairie, or nearby areas, he may be able to help you regain your shoulder movement.
The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons and the related muscles that stabilize the shoulder joint and allow you to raise and rotate your arm. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with three main bones: the upper arm bone (humerus), the collarbone (clavicle), and the shoulder blade (scapula). These bones are held together by muscles, tendons, ligaments, and the joint capsule. The rotator cuff helps keep the ball of the arm bone seated into the socket of the shoulder blade.
As the shoulder’s rotator cuff muscles, ligaments, and tendons are loosened or weakened through wear, damaged by injury, tear, or dislocation they may become less effective in keeping the upper arm bone correctly seated in the shoulder socket. Dislocation of the shoulder can increase in frequency, or dislocation may result from less range or frequency of motion, or milder injury than initially experienced producing a dislocation. This ongoing reduction in the shoulder’s capacity to correctly confine the humerus within the rotator cuff is referred to as chronic shoulder instability.
As much as fifty-percent of the shoulder socket is comprised of a soft fibrous tissue (labrum) which aids in securing the upper arm bone in place. The shoulder’s range of rotational motion and use in activities and repetitive motion, as well as susceptibility to acute injury and trauma can expose the labrum to tissue damage and tears. Continued wear through athletics or weight-lifting can increase the likelihood of labrum damage.
An impingement of the shoulder is a common condition producing a painful limit to the range of shoulder motion. The shoulder impingement condition is the result of the front edge of the shoulder blade compressing against the rotator cuff during shoulder motion or rotation.
