Men and Women from Vancouver and all across B.C. choose False Healthcare Centre because of board-certified surgeons Dr. Alan Baggoo, Dr. Peter Kokan, Dr. Victor Jando, Dr. Fadi Tarazi, Dr. Kostas Panagiotopolous and Dr. Thomas Goetz. Our teams of orthopedic surgeons have years of experience and excellence in performing shoulder surgeries.
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that hold your arm in your shoulder joint and help you move your shoulder in different directions. The tendons in the rotator cuff can tear when they are overused or injured. In such cases a shoulder arthroscopy may be recommended to help diagnose and treat the injury.
Shoulder arthroscopy is a surgical diagnostic procedure designed to aid in diagnosing and treating shoulder pain and injury. Arthroscopy allows your surgeon to look directly into your elbow and the surrounding area to diagnose your injury and decide on the best treatment option for you.
Reasons for Shoulder Arthroscopy
A shoulder arthroscopy may be recommended for these shoulder problems:
- Torn rotator cuff
- Acromioplasty: Surgery for impingement syndrome
- Bankhart repair: Surgery for shoulder instability
- Arthritis of the end of the collarbone
- Inflammation or damaged lining of the joint commonly caused by an illness, such as rheumatoid arthritis
- A torn or damaged cartilage ring or ligaments
- A torn or damaged biceps tendon
What to Expect
Shoulder arthroscopy can take 1-2 hours, depending on how much work your surgeon determines is necessary around your shoulder joint. A sterile fluid will be pumped into your joint to help produce a clearer picture and then a surgeon inserts a fibre-optic video camera, or arthroscope, through a small incision which transmits images from inside the joint to a video monitor.
Your surgeon will use these images to examine your shoulder joint and make a diagnosis. If necessary, they will also repair any damage or remove material that interferes with movement or causes pain in your shoulder. Afterwards, the fluid is drained out and the incisions are closed with stitches or adhesive strips. A dressing and a bandage is then wrapped around the joint.
Next Steps
If you are ready to discuss your surgery needs with our board certified surgeons, request a consultation today. During your consultation your patient care adviser will discuss:
- Your medical history
- Pre and post-operative care
- Potential risks and complications
18 Comments
Fell down rock covered cliff Dec 29, 2012 resulting in Type 4 seperated shoulder. Analysis done by Orthopedic surgeon who requested MRI to verify damage. The MRI was done on January 10, 2013. I have copy of xrays and MRI. Findings, of the MRI, direct quote includes:
The dominant abnormality involves the acromioclaviclar joint. There is an acute or subacute appearing complete tear of the acromioclavicular ligament. The distal clavicle is displaced one shaft width superiorly and slightly posteriorly piercing the trapezius muscle posteriorly. There is an associated acute or subacute complete tear involving the coracoclavicular ligaments. The torn ends of the coracoclavicular ligaments are retracted 1.8 cm. The acromion process demonstrated a flat undersuface without anterior hooking (type 1). There is a small subacromial seen on the T1 seighted images. There is a small amount of fluid in the subacromial bursa.
What is your recommendation?
I have a recurring problem with my shoulder dislocating. Its an old sports injury. Im wondering the same as most other people. How much is a consultation, how long til I can have the surgery and how long for recovery.
would like a ball park cost of shoulder surgery and consultation visits to remove calcium deposits in a shoulder, also time line of getting in for the surgery. Also if medical plans will cover any of the costs.
I have a SLAP tear with shoulder instability, confirmed by MRI at VGH. I have been told surgery may or may not work in correcting the problem and have been referred to a second orthopedic surgeon. I have been told the wait time for surgery is approximately one year. Could you tell me what the approximate cost would be for consultation as well as the surgery and whether you know if Pacific Blue Cross covers any portion of it?
I have been suffering with shoulder, arm and wrist pain for three years. MRI in Jan 2012 finally showed that I have a “serpiginous septated cystic focus in the superolateral aspect of the humeral head . . .” The wait for orthopedic surgery in Edmonton is 8 months. Can you help me sooner?
I have have had left shoulder pain for well over a year. The MRI shows that I have calcification at the anterior aspect of the humoral head at the supraspinatus tendon. I have had every treatment available, including recently, needle aspirations of the calcium deposits. The only relief I get is my cortisone injections. I want to book surgery to remove the calcium deposits. I would like to book an appointment with your shoulder specialist to obtain the surgery privately.
Thank you
Please call regarding my shoulder
In late September, I fell onto pavement while visiting in Toronto. I have since been diagnosed with complete full thickness tear of the subscapular tendon. A small effusion is present in the glenohumeral joint. This is my right arm..
I am in constant pain, especially at night and have to have an operation, the sooner the better as my quality of life is terrible. I live in Vancouver and would appreciate a reply from you. For your information I am 82 years old, but in good health.
My 19 year old son has had his shoulder dislocated more than 9 times in the past year, with 2 of them being double dislocations. He has been to the emergency room here in Calgary more times than I care to remember, and has seen the surgeons on duty there at the time of injury. They always tell us they will book him for surgery to repair his shoulder, but it seems we never get that call.
He has been to see his regular doctor (Dr. Ronald Wong), but even he has had no success in booking a consult, let alone the necessary surgery. My son needs this sooner rather than later.
Can you help us?
Dianna C.
My husband John Fuite, a mechanic, has been sufferring with his shoulder for the past year and is rendered useless when it comes to maintaining his machinery. Our family doctor has correctly diagnosed rotator cuff problems.
Because of a long line-up of getting an appointment with a specialists we have taken it upon ourselves to use a private MRI services of Image One MRI of Kelowna.
Therefore, we have an MRI x-ray disk and a MRI report from Dr.R D’Oidio, MC, FRCP on hand.
Are you able to fix my husband’s shoulder.
Alice & John Fuite
I have had an MRI done of my right shoulder and this is what the report reads:
A long list , so here is the conclusion: “Ther has been complete rupture of the intra-articular long head of biceps tendon adjacent to its anchor upon the superior labrum. The torn tendon remnant is swollen and edernatours within the upper part of the joint. There is mild tendinosis of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons and partial thickness articular sided tearing of the subscapularis tendon. There is mild subacromial subdeltoid birsitis. There is moderately severe hypertrophic degenerative change within the acromioclavicular joint.”
I also have a copy of the MRI Disk
Looking forward to your reply
I am 52 years old Male, I have done two Orthroscopical Rotator Cuff Repair surgeories in 2007 and again in 2008 (both on RIght shoulder), now I have a complete tear of the supraspinatus tendon on my right shoulder again with atrophy of supraspinatus muscle (3.2 cm) This injury might occured at the end of last year (Dec 2010) I have had x-ray, and MRI last march 2011 and have been referred to a surgeon for surgery. I am living in Calgary Alberta. I am felling the muscules and the movement of my right hand and arm are becoming weaker day by day, I would be pleased to have an estimate of how soon I could have surgery on my shoulder and can forward X-Rays and MRI arthrogram or reports and what is the cost of this surgeory, thanks
I have had all the shoulder ultrasound and had a consultation with an orthopaedic yesterday. I have a total tear of the supraspinatus tendon, with retraction in my right shoulder. The injury occured in hockey about 3 mths ago and I had been going to physio with no improvement. That was when I asked for more testing to be done and discovered the tear.
I realize there is a long wait for surgery and since I am right-handed, I would prefer to have the surgery done privately and more quickly. Could you contact me about time schedule on surgery at your facility and give me an idea of the cost. Thank you for your response.
Jerry
I have a complete tear of the supraspinatus tendon on my right shoulder with atrophy of supraspinatus muscle (3.2 cm by2.5 cm through the full-thickness i.e 5-6 mm). This injury occured at the end of February 2011. I have had x-ray, ultra sound and MRI and have been referred to a surgeon for surgery. I have still not even been called by the surgeon and because the MRI states. I am currently having physiotherapy on my shoulder to keep scar tissue in check. I am most anxious to have this operated on because I cannot lift my arm upright nor backwards and I am right handed. I would be pleased to have an estimate of how soon I could have surgery on my shoulder and can forward Ultra sound and MRI arthrogram.
I have recently had an MRI of my left shoulder and the surgeon has recommended reconstructional surgery as the rotator cuff tendon is damaged as well I have bone spirs and fluid cause by R/A. Earliest date available to me is 6 months wondering if you have anything sooner.
I have been recently diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder. I am a bookkeeper and use of this arm is imperative. Please let me know what is recommended.
I have a problem shoulder
it keeps dislocating even under low stress, low impact circumstances.
i am wondering if there is anything that can be done, and how long the rehab generally is,
Thanks
I was wondering if you did surgery on shoulder bone spurs. my husband has them and we live i kelowna and there id a long waiting list. we need to get this looked at soon.
can you e-mail me on this,