Can all shoulder instability procedures be performed arthroscopically?
Most but not all procedures are performed arthroscopically. Your surgical consent form will mention arthroscopic and possible open stabilization. Sometimes intraoperative findings will dictate whether we have to proceed at that time with an open incision. What are some of the complications that can occur with shoulder stabilization surgery? The chance of infection, blood clots in the legs (thrombophlebitis), and blood clots in the lung (pulmonary emboli) are all less than 1%. There is a chance that you could lose some motionmost studies show an average loss of external rotation of 5 degrees or less. Rarely patients can have an exaggerated scar response and lose more motion secondary to shoulder stiffness. Recurrent instability following shoulder instability procedures seems to vary in most contemporary studies between 5 and 10% with current techniques.
