Based on the results of your interview, examination, and imaging studies, you can expect a custom care plan catered specifically to you.

Many people believe it’s best to wait until pain becomes severe, leading them to “put off” or delay treatments like shoulder arthroscopy.

If you are in constant discomfort, have shooting or stabbing pains, have limited range of motion, or an inability to perform your daily activities, shoulder arthroscopy may be right for you.

New technologies allow patients with shoulder pain to fully recover and enjoy the benefits of a more functional, pain-free lifestyle.

Prior to surgery, you will typically receive at least 2 phone calls:

• A hospital registration representative will call to gather insurance and other personal information.
• A registered nurse will call to review your health history and medication information.

Dependent on your health history, your physician may require:

• Pre-surgical laboratory tests
• X-rays
• Primary care clearance

Pre-operative instructions will vary depending on your physician and the location of your surgery.

Always check with your physician prior to surgery for their specific instructions.

Most physicians require patients to not eat or drink after midnight prior to surgery the next day.

Additionally, you will need a designated family member or friend to drive you home on the day you are released from the hospital. Surgical patients cannot drive themselves home.

If you schedule your surgery with a KCOA physician, you can expect the following on surgery day: 

• A receptionist will check you in at the hospital registration desk.
• A nurse will take you back and prepare you for surgery. They will start an IV, prepare the surgical site, and review your medical history and medications.
• Your surgeon and anesthesiologist will visit with you prior to your operation.
• The surgical team will take you to the operation suite for surgery.

Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that allows surgeons to see inside the joint. Your provider inserts a small tube with a camera through a minor incision, allowing the surgeon to make a more definitive diagnosis, and eliminating the need for a large, open surgical incision.

We typically use arthroscopy to make a diagnosis when X-rays and other imaging tools do not provide answers. In some cases, like with rotator cuff injuries, KCOA physicians use arthroscopy to treat orthopedic conditions.

During a shoulder arthroscopy in Kansas City, you will remain under general anesthesia. After creating a small incision, the surgeon inserts a tiny camera (arthroscope) into the shoulder joint, giving a clear guide for the surgical instruments.

Saline-based fluid flows through the arthroscope to keep the image clear and bleeding minimal. This is quite different from an open surgery, which requires a much larger incision and longer recovery times.

After assessing the injury and condition, your surgeon will begin the repair. Shoulder arthroscopy gives access to many repair options, like repairing the rotator cuff and labrum, smoothing the surrounding cartilage, removing inflamed tissue, and reshaping joints to prevent recurring injuries.

After your surgery, you will remain in the recovery room before being discharged. Our experienced clinical team will monitor you during this recovery and provide pain relief medication, if needed.

Arthroscopy isn’t as invasive as normal surgeries, but it may still take from a few weeks to a few months for your shoulder to fully recover.

Because of its proximity to the head and neck and the concentration of nerve endings, shoulder surgeries can cause quite a bit of discomfort.

After shoulder arthroscopy many patients experience aching, soreness, and swelling. This is common and expected.

Most people are in a sling for at least a month, but for more severe cases, it may be extended to 2 months.

You will gradually regain your motion and strength with the help of a physical or occupational therapist.

To prevent further injuries, it’s important to maintain good posture (and ensure that your shoulder is in good position relative to the scapula), focus on your core strength, and promote healthy mobility of the shoulder.