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We welcome Dr. Krcik to our practice. Dr. Krcik is returning home to the South Side. He is a graduate of Brother Rice High School and University of Illinois-Chicago. Dr. Krcik’s specialty is in Pediatric / Adult Sports Medicine. We are very pleased to welcome him to our practice and back to Chicago!

See Dr. Krcik’s bio for further information »

Our Specialties Include

• Total Hip and Knee Replacement
• Revision Total Joint Arthroplasty
• Anterior Approach Hip Replacement
• Knee Arthroscopy / ACL Reconstruction
• Partial Knee Replacement
• Hip Resurfacing
• Hip Arthroscopy
• Ankle Arthroscopy
• Shoulder Arthroscopy / Rotator Cuff Repair / SLAP Repair
• Sports Medicine (Sports-Related Injuries)
• Pediatric Sports Medicine / Adult Sports Medicine
• Minimally Invasive Surgery of the Knee and Hip
• General Orthopedics
• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Fracture Care

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Shoulder: Shoulder Arthroscopy

Shoulder arthroscopy is a type of surgery that uses a small camera (arthroscope) inserted through a small incision to examine or repair the tissues inside or around your shoulder joint.

The surgeon makes a small incision, about one-quarter inch (0.25") long, near the shoulder joint. A small camera (arthroscope) is then inserted into the joint. The camera is attached to a video monitor to allow the surgeon to see inside the joint.

Most people are asleep during the surgery. Therefore, you will be unable to watch the video monitor. A nerve block may be used to numb your shoulder and arm to help reduce pain after surgery.

A salt solution (saline) is pumped into the shoulder to expand the joint. This helps the surgeon see the joint and helps control any bleeding.

The surgeon will look around the entire joint to check the cartilage, tendons, and ligaments of the shoulder. If damaged tissues need to be repaired, the surgeon will make 1 to 3 additional small incisions to insert other instruments. These may include a blunt hook to pull on tissues, a shaver to remove damaged or unwanted tissues, and a burr to remove bone.

In addition to working on the shoulder joint, the surgeon often places the camera in the space above the rotator cuff tendons (the subacromial space). The surgeon can evaluate the area above the rotator cuff, clean out inflamed or damaged tissue, remove a bone spur, and fix a rotator cuff tear.

At the end of the surgery, the fluid is drained from the shoulder, the small incisions are closed, and a dressing is applied. Your surgeon will probably take pictures of the procedure from the video monitor to show you what was found and what was done.