Fellowship-Trained Surgeons Perform Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery and Other Minimally Invasive Procedures for Patients From Monroe Township, NJ

If you have chronic shoulder pain or a shoulder injury that is interfering with your ability to perform daily tasks, you may be a candidate for arthroscopic shoulder surgery. If so, a surgeon at New Jersey Sports Medicine near Monroe Township, NJ, can inspect and repair damaged tissues within your shoulder joint or the space surrounding your rotator cuff using buttonhole incisions, a tiny camera (arthroscope), and specialized surgical instruments.

Which shoulder conditions can be treated arthroscopically?

The surgeons at New Jersey Sports Medicine may recommend arthroscopic shoulder surgery to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions and injuries, such as:

• Rotator cuff tears
• Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
• Bicipital tendonitis
• Calcific tendonitis
• Shoulder instability (a history of shoulder dislocations)
• Labral tears
• Acromioclavicular joint arthritis
• Synovitis
• Bursitis
• Shoulder impingement
• Loose cartilage floating freely in a shoulder joint

Even though arthroscopic shoulder surgery can be very effective for restoring function and relieving pain, we generally do not consider it to be a first-line treatment. That’s because nonsurgical therapies can often be equally effective, and thus can help many patients avoid unnecessary surgery. For example, the in-house physical therapists at New Jersey Sports Medicine may be able to create a customized physical therapy program to offset the effects of a shoulder injury by strengthening the muscles that support the damaged joint. Another option may be a steroid injection, which can help reduce painful joint inflammation.

For patients who decide to proceed with surgery, arthroscopy can offer several advantages over traditional open surgery, which typically requires a long incision and lengthy rehabilitation. For instance, when performing arthroscopic shoulder surgery, a surgeon can avoid disrupting the muscles and tissues around the surgical site, which can help to reduce both recovery time and scarring.

If you are interested in exploring arthroscopic shoulder surgery and its alternatives, contact New Jersey Sports Medicine. You can consult with our board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons at our sports medicine center near Monroe Township, NJ.