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Shoulder Arthroscopy Complications

For patients with extreme joint pain, shoulder arthroscopy is a useful tool in diagnosing the source of symptoms associated with shoulder pain. The operation involves making several small incisions in order to allow the surgeon to view the shoulder joint and cartilage and identify any abnormalities. If an abnormality is mild, such as an area of loose or diseased cartilage, the surgeon may be able to remove this problem, reducing the need for further surgery.

  1. Bleeding

    • The insertion of instruments either used to visualize or treat a shoulder abnormality may result in damage to surrounding blood vessels, which can result in internal bleeding. This complication can usually be identified during the arthroscopy process, allowing a physician to repair any injured blood vessels.

    Shoulder Stiffness

    • Whether due to the healing incisions or removal of cartilage or other materials, the shoulder can feel stiff and more difficult to move following shoulder arthroscopy. While this symptom should subside over time, some residual stiffness may occur.

    Weakness

    • Cartilage in the shoulder exists to boost joint stability. Therefore, removal of a portion of cartilage (even if it is diseased) can cause the shoulder to feel more weak than prior to surgery.

    Edema

    • A condition which causes swelling due to an an influx of fluid, edema can occur because saline is injected into the shoulder in order to help the surgeon better visualize the surgical area. The fluid can migrate to other body parts, causing swelling, particularly in the arm. Because this fluid also can travel to the abdominal cavity and cause pain, nausea and other harmful effects, an arthroscopy patient should seek medical attention should swelling occur.

    Failure to Relieve Symptoms

    • If shoulder arthoscopy is used to repair or remove a diseased ligament or relieve nerve compression, there is a risk that the procedure may not relieve symptoms or that symptoms may recur. If the surgery is unsuccessful, more invasive measures may need to be taken to experience symptom relief.

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