Your shoulder aches just as you lift your laptop tray to work, and the twinge sends you wincing back in your seat. It’s not just a “stiff shoulder” from last week’s badminton game; this persistent nag is affecting your sleep, your commute and your weekend plans. Could a minimally invasive procedure, using a camera no thicker than a pencil, offer genuine relief?
Shoulder arthroscopy is a surgical technique that depends on a slender tube with a tiny camera, called an arthroscope, to inspect and treat issues inside the joint. Rather than opening your shoulder with a large incision, the surgeon makes a few small portals, each only a few millimetres wide, through which instruments and the camera enter. The high-definition feed projects onto a screen, guiding the surgeon as they repair tears, remove inflamed tissue or smooth rough cartilage.
Why Choose a Minimally Invasive Approach?
Traditional “open” surgery can involve cutting through muscle and tissue to access the shoulder joint, leading to more pain and a longer recovery. With arthroscopy, you benefit from:
- Smaller wounds: Less trauma to skin and muscle means reduced postoperative pain.
- Lower risk of infection: Tiny entry points heal faster and seal more securely.
- Faster return to daily activities: Many patients begin gentle movement exercises within days.
Common Conditions Treated with Arthroscopy
A range of shoulder problems can be addressed with this technique:
- Rotator cuff tears: Tiny tools can reattach frayed tendons to bone.
- Labral tears: The cartilage ring around the socket is trimmed or repaired.
- Shoulder impingement: Bony spurs or inflamed tissue are removed to create more space.
- Frozen shoulder: Scar tissue is released to improve the range of motion.
What to Expect During the Procedure
On the day of surgery, you’ll receive a regional anaesthetic, numbing just the arm, plus sedation to keep you relaxed. The surgeon makes two or three small incisions, inserts the arthroscope, and then works with specialised instruments to address the underlying issue. The entire operation often takes less than an hour. After closing the portals with dissolvable sutures or small steri-strips, your arm is placed in a sling and you’re wheeled to recovery.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
One of the greatest strengths of shoulder arthroscopy lies in its rehabilitation process. Rather than weeks of bed rest, most people begin guided physiotherapy within 24 to 48 hours. Early exercises emphasise gentle mobility, such as circling the wrist, rotating the hand, and lifting the elbow, gradually advancing to strength training as healing allows. Within six to eight weeks, many patients notice significant pain reduction and improved function. Full recovery can take three to six months, depending on the complexity of the repair.
Is It Right for You?
If shoulder pain limits your daily life, or if non-surgical treatments such as physiotherapy, anti-inflammatory medication and rest haven’t brought lasting relief, shoulder arthroscopy may be an option. A thorough assessment, including clinical examination and imaging like MRI, will help your orthopaedic specialist determine whether this minimally invasive route can address your specific condition.
Don’t let shoulder pain dictate your day. Book a consultation with our Orthocare to explore whether shoulder arthroscopy could guide you back to the activities you love, free from that nagging ache.
