The area between top portion of upper arm bone and small bone residing
at top potion of shoulder blade is termed as Subacromial area. This subacromial
area contains a sac filled with fluid, and this sac is termed as bursa.
Certain movements and continuous overhead activities can cause swelling
of bursa. When the swelling increases, the space available between shoulder
blade and rotator cuff tendon decreases there by leading to extreme pain
and movement restrictions in the shoulder.
This health
issue is cured by Subacromial Decompression Surgery. In this surgery,
the shape of shoulder blade is altered to bring more space between shoulder
blade and rotator cuff tendon. This surgery also removes bony spurs.
Need for Subacromial Decompression Surgery
When there is a swelling in bursa, the Doctor will initially try with
non-surgical treatments namely physiotherapy exercises, anti inflammatory
drugs that are non-steroidal and finally steroid injections. When the
patient doesn’t have any improvement, then Subacromial Decompression
Surgery is recommended by the Doctor.
If the patient
has one of the following problems, then Subacromial Decompression Surgery
has to be performed: (1) Frozen Shoulder (2) Impingement in subacromial
area that does not respond to non-surgical treatments (3) Rupture in Rotator
Cuff (4) Arthritis ACJ
Subacromial
Decompression Surgery Procedure
Subacromial Decompression Surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure,
where in the patient can be discharged in the same day of surgery. The
surgery requires one to two hours of time. The patient is initially given
anesthesia, either general anesthesia or regional anesthesia based on
the patient’s convenience. When the anesthesia is in effect, a small
cut of size 5mm is made in the skin which is surrounding the shoulder.
Then sterile fluid is applied in the joints to have a clear picture. Now
arthroscope is inserted into the joint through the cut that is already
made. The surgeon will view the joints either through arthroscope or by
viewing the pictures received in the monitor. The surgeon then inserts
special instruments into the small cut and reshapes the shoulder blade.
When the shoulder blade is reshaped, the fluid is drained and the incision
is closed by stitches.
After
Subacromial Decompression Surgery
When the surgery is done, the patient will be in room until the anesthesia
effect is passed. When the patient gains conscious, the surgeon will visit
the patient and discuss about the after effects of surgery and how to
take care of shoulders during recovery period.
The Physiotherapist will also visit the patient and discuss about the
shoulder exercises to be done during recovery period. The patient requires
two months to six months to completely recover from the Subacromial Decompression
Surgery.
