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Tendon diseases in the shoulder, such as tendonitis and rupture, afflict many people who experience intense pain and great difficulty in their daily lives. Arthroscopic repair of tendon rupture can provide a definitive solution to the problem and relieve patients.

What is a tendon rupture and what causes it?

The rotator cuff tendons, as they are called, help in the proper functioning and smooth movement of the shoulder. Shoulder tendon rupture is a common condition in adults, which has a significant impact on the daily lives of patients, as it can cause pain and limitation of shoulder movement. The rupture can be partial or complete and may be due to degeneration of the tendons due to the passage of years. However, it can also be due to an acute injury, e.g. in the context of a sporting activity or even after a fall – injury.

How can tendon rupture be treated?

When the rupture is partial, chronic and occurs in older people, then the first choice may be conservative treatment. However, if conservative treatment fails, if the rupture is acute and traumatic and the patients are younger, in productive work or professional sports, then the option is surgical repair, which can now be done easily, immediately and without discomfort for the patient, by the method of arthroscopy.

What is shoulder arthroscopy?

Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive technique that does not involve large incisions and is performed through three small 4-millimeter holes around the shoulder. Through such a hole, the Orthopaedic Surgeon inserts a special tool that has a small camera (arthroscope) built into it, thanks to which he inspects the tendon damage. He then fixes the tendon in the area from which it has detached with special sutures.

What are the advantages of shoulder arthroscopy?

As a minimally invasive procedure, arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tendon ruptures does not involve large incisions and therefore:

• No injury to underlying tissues
• There are no stitches
• Postoperative pain is minimal to non-existent
• The aesthetic result is excellent
• Does not require hospitalization, the patient returns home the same day
• Recovery and return to daily life and work is faster

Can the procedure be performed without general anesthesia?

In Greece, shoulder arthroscopy is traditionally performed under general anesthesia. However, the team of the Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Clinic at the Athens Medical Center supports the possibility of repairing tendon ruptures in the shoulder with Arthroscopy Without General Anesthesia.

This means that the patient, if he chooses, can be awake during the operation, monitor his surgery and talk to the surgeon! This is a know-how that is widely used abroad and which the team of the Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Clinic brought to Greece, utilizing the state-of-the-art infrastructure and the leading biomedical equipment of the Athens Medical Group.