Shoulder Arthroscopy
Minimally invasive shoulder surgery with Dr. Steven Ward in Tucson and Oro Valley — a small camera and instruments are used to find and treat problems inside the joint, including loose bodies and inflamed joint lining.
Call 520-881-1394Typical ranges for general education. Dr. Ward’s plan for you may differ.
What it treats
Shoulder arthroscopy lets Dr. Ward look directly inside the joint through buttonhole-sized incisions. It is used to find and treat:
- Unexplained shoulder pain when the exam, X-rays, and MRI do not give a clear answer (diagnostic arthroscopy)
- Loose bodies — fragments of cartilage or bone floating in the joint that cause catching, locking, or pain
- Synovitis — inflamed joint lining that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness (removed with a synovectomy)
- Other problems found at the same time, such as rotator cuff, labrum, biceps, or bone spur issues
If a repair is needed — for example, a rotator cuff or labral repair — it is usually done during the same arthroscopy, and your recovery then follows the plan for that repair.
Is surgery right for you?
Most shoulder problems start with non-operative care: rest from the activities that aggravate it, anti-inflammatory medication when it is safe for you, physical therapy, and sometimes an injection. Many people improve with these steps alone.
Arthroscopy is considered when pain or mechanical symptoms such as catching and locking keep limiting you despite that care, or when imaging shows a problem that is unlikely to settle on its own. Dr. Ward will review your exam and imaging with you and talk through the options before any decision is made.
How the surgery is done
Shoulder arthroscopy is usually an outpatient procedure. Anesthesia often uses a nerve block to numb the shoulder and arm, typically combined with a light general anesthetic so you are comfortable and still.
Dr. Ward makes a few small incisions around the shoulder. Sterile fluid gently expands the joint, and the arthroscope sends a video image to a monitor. Small instruments passed through the other incisions are used to remove loose pieces, trim inflamed lining, and treat anything else that is found. The incisions are closed with stitches or steri-strips and covered with a soft dressing.
Most arthroscopic shoulder procedures take less than two hours. The exact time depends on what is found and what needs to be treated.
Arthroscopic vs. open surgery
Arthroscopy uses a camera and small incisions instead of one larger incision. For many problems that means less pain early on and an easier start to recovery.
Some operations still need an open incision — shoulder replacement is one example. See total shoulder replacement for that surgery.
Recovery overview
These are typical ranges for a diagnostic arthroscopy, loose body removal, or synovectomy without a repair. Dr. Ward’s plan for you may differ, especially if a repair is done.
First few days
- Most people spend 1–2 hours in recovery and go home the same day; you need a driver and someone with you the first night
- Ice helps pain and swelling; many people sleep more comfortably propped up or in a recliner
- The dressing usually stays on for about three days, then small bandages until the incisions are dry
Weeks 1–2
- A sling is often used for comfort only for a few days to about two weeks when no repair was done
- Gentle motion and home exercises start early, often with a physical therapist
- Many people return to desk work or school within days to a couple of weeks
Weeks 2–12
- Soreness can last several weeks and usually fades steadily
- Strengthening builds once motion is comfortable
- Heavy lifting, overhead work, and sports return gradually over weeks to a few months, depending on what was treated
When to call the clinic
Call 520-881-1394 if you notice any of the following after surgery or while you are recovering:
- A fever of 101°F or higher, or chills
- Redness spreading around an incision, or drainage that is cloudy, foul-smelling, or keeps soaking the dressing after the first few days
- New or worsening numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arm or hand once the nerve block has worn off, or fingers that turn pale, blue, or cold
- Pain that is not controlled by your prescribed medication, ice, rest, and the sling
- Swelling, pain, or tenderness in the calf or arm that is new or getting worse
It is normal for the shoulder and arm to feel numb for roughly 12–24 hours after a nerve block, and for the shoulder to be sore and bruised for a while. Call if something feels different from what you were told to expect.
for chest pain, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing. These can be signs of a blood clot in the lungs and need emergency care.
If something does not match the instructions you were given, call the office. Dr. Ward or one of his physician assistants will get back to you.
Related resources
Shoulder Arthroscopy Post-Op Instructions
Dr. Ward’s printable handout: sling, wound care, pain control, and the exercise phases after surgery.
Open PDFShoulder arthroscopy post-op
Wound care, pain control, ice, and early motion after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
Open pageShoulder post-op hub
All of Dr. Ward’s shoulder packets, rehab protocols, and anatomy guides in one place.
Open pageExercise guides
Printable home exercise programs to use with your physical therapist.
Open pageRotator cuff repair
What happens when a torn rotator cuff tendon is repaired, and the week-by-week rehab plan.
Open pageOrthoInfo: Shoulder arthroscopy
Patient education from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
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