Why is the doctor recommending I have my shoulder repaired through a normal incision rather than arthroscopically?
Not all shoulder problems can be properly repaired using an arthroscope. Many surgeons believe that large rotator cuff tears, for example, are better treated by standard shoulder surgery. Similarly, a shoulder that is unstable in all directions will likely require open surgery. Moreover, shoulder arthroscopy is really still in development, and many surgeons are still not confident about the long-term results of certain repairs of shoulder problems with the arthroscope.
