What's New

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

Shoulder: Shoulder Arthroscopy Procedure Overview

Why the Procedure is Performed

Arthroscopy may be recommended for shoulder problems, such as:

• A Torn or Damaged Cartilage Ring (Labrum) or Ligaments (In Cases of Shoulder Instability)
• A Torn or Damaged Biceps Tendon
• A Torn Rotator Cuff
• A Bone Spur or Inflammation Around the Rotator Cuff
• Stiffness of the Shoulder
• Inflammation or Damaged Lining of the Joint
• Arthritis of the End of the Clavicle (Acromioclavicular Joint)

Risks

The risks for any anesthesia are:

• Allergic Reactions to Medications
• Problems Breathing

The risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Nerve Damage

Additional risks include:

• Stiffness of the Shoulder
• Failure of the Surgery to Relieve Symptoms
• Failure of the Repair to Heal
• Weakness of the Shoulder

Outlook (Prognosis)

Arthroscopy is an alternative to "open" surgery that completely exposes the shoulder joint. Arthroscopy results in less pain and stiffness, fewer complications, shorter (if any) hospital stays, and possibly faster recovery time.

The expectations vary depending on the purpose of the surgery. In cases where repair is needed, the body still has to heal after arthroscopic surgery, just as if the surgery were open. Therefore, the overall recovery time may still be long.

Surgery to fix a cartilage tear is usually performed because the shoulder is not stable. Many people recover fully, and the symptoms of instability go away. However, some people can still have instability of the shoulder after arthroscopic repair.

Using arthroscopy for rotator cuff repairs or tendonitis usually relieves the pain, but you may or may not regain all of your strength.

Recovery

Recovery can take anywhere from 1 to 6 months, depending on the surgery that was performed. You will probably have to wear a sling for the first week. If you had a more extensive repair, you may have to wear the sling for a longer period. You may take medications to control your pain.

When you can return to work or play sports will depend on the surgery that was performed, but it can range from 1 week to several months.

For many procedures, especially if a repair is performed, physical therapy may help you regain the motion and strength of your shoulder. The length of therapy will depend on the repair that was done.

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