How expensive is arthroscopic shoulder surgery?
Arthroscopic surgery involves making small incisions through which an arthroscope, a tiny camera, and surgical instruments can be inserted and sent down to the site of surgery. Surgeons perform the operation by looking at the images the video camera sends back to a monitor. Since arthroscopic surgery involves more expensive specially designed tools, it costs more than the conventional “open” surgery in which bigger incisions are given so the doctors can directly examine the diseased area. Actual costs of arthroscopic shoulder surgery depend on the hospital location and fee, expertise of the staff, extent of injuries to be fixed and patient’s insurance. The biggest advantage of arthroscopic surgery is reduced trauma to the body so it heals much faster. Compared to traditional surgeries, arthroscopy leads to shorter hospital stay, faster post-operative recovery, better chances to gain maximum mobility and early resumption of normal activities.
