Restore comfortable movement when pain, instability, or damaged tissue keeps you from performing at your best. Dr. Stephanie Buza, fellowship-trained in sports medicine and shoulder surgery, uses shoulder arthroscopy to treat labral, rotator cuff, and other joint injuries.
Restore Your Shoulder Through Smaller Incisions
Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat injuries inside your shoulder joint. Through small incisions, Dr. Buza inserts a thin camera called an arthroscope to clearly view the labrum, rotator cuff, cartilage, and other structures. Specialized instruments can then repair or remove damaged tissue based on your condition. Compared with open surgery, arthroscopy provides targeted access to the shoulder while minimizing disruption to the surrounding muscles and soft tissues.
Shoulder Arthroscopy Treats:
- Rotator cuff tears
- Shoulder labral tears
- Bankart lesions
- Recurrent shoulder instability
- Shoulder impingement
- Inflamed or damaged tissue within the joint
- Loose cartilage or bone fragments
- Certain shoulder tendon injuries
- Painful clicking, catching, or locking caused by joint damage
- Shoulder injuries that interfere with sports, dance, training, or everyday movement
Your Shoulder Arthroscopy Procedure
Shoulder arthroscopy is performed through several small incisions called portals. Dr. Buza inserts an arthroscope into your shoulder, allowing her to examine the labrum, rotator cuff, cartilage, biceps tendon, and other joint structures on a monitor. Sterile fluid is circulated through the joint to gently expand the space, creating a clearer view and room to work.
Through additional portals, Dr. Buza introduces specialized instruments to treat the problem she identifies. Depending on your injury, this may involve securing a torn labrum or rotator cuff with sutures and anchors, removing damaged or inflamed tissue, or addressing other abnormalities inside the shoulder. Once treatment is complete, the instruments and fluid are removed, the small incisions are closed, and your shoulder is protected as the healing process begins.
Benefits of Shoulder Arthroscopy:
- Small incisions compared with traditional open shoulder surgery
- Minimal disruption to surrounding muscles and soft tissues
- Detailed visualization of structures inside the shoulder
- Targeted treatment of the specific source of your symptoms
- Ability to address multiple problems during the same procedure
- Repair of damaged labral, tendon, or rotator cuff tissue
- Potential for less postoperative discomfort than open surgery
Return to Activity After Shoulder Arthroscopy
There isn’t one recovery timeline for shoulder arthroscopy because it depends on what happens inside your shoulder. If no major tissue repair is needed, you may start gentle movement within days. After a labral or rotator cuff repair, your shoulder needs more protection, often including a sling for 2 to 6 weeks and physical therapy focused first on safely restoring motion.
From there, you’ll gradually rebuild strength before adding heavier or faster movements. More demanding training may begin in about 2 to 4 months, while throwing, contact sports, lifting, or performance may require 4 to 6 months or longer after a repair. Dr. Buza progresses you based on how your shoulder is actually healing and the specific demands you need to get back to.
How Do I Know if I Need Shoulder Arthroscopy?
Shoulder arthroscopy may be considered when pain, weakness, instability, catching, or limited movement continues despite appropriate non-operative care. Dr. Buza carefully evaluates your symptoms, shoulder function, imaging, activity level, and goals before recommending surgery. Whether you compete, perform, train recreationally, or simply want comfortable everyday movement, treatment is individualized around what your shoulder needs.
Let’s Get You Moving Again.
Schedule Your Consultation for Shoulder Arthroscopy in NYC
Dr. Stephanie Buza is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who knows what it means to rely on your body. Her background as a classically trained ballet dancer shapes how she cares for athletes and performers today, while her HSS fellowship training in sports medicine and shoulder surgery brings specialized expertise to your shoulder care. Ready to get moving again? Schedule your shoulder arthroscopy consultation with Dr. Buza in New York City.
