Risks & Complications for Shoulder Surgery

From http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007206.htm,

Risks for any anesthesia are:

• Allergic reactions to the medicines
• Breathing problems

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clot

Risks of shoulder arthroscopy are:

• Shoulder stiffness
• Failure of the surgery to relieve symptoms
• Failure of the repair to heal
• Weakness of the shoulder
• Injury to a blood vessel

Arthrocopy is an 'open' surgery' that completely exposes the shoulder joint.

Arthroscopy results in:

• Less pain and stiffness
• Fewer complications
• Shorter hospital stays
• Faster recovery

From http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00066,

Risks associated with surgery:

• Possible infection
• Damage to surrounding nerves and blood vessels

After surgery, some pain, tenderness, and stiffness are normal.

Post-surgery signs and symptoms that require attention:

• Fever after the second day following surgery
• Increasing pain or swelling
• Redness, warmth, or tenderness (suggests a wound infection)
• Unusual bleeding (some surgical wound drainage is normal)
• Numbness or tingling sensation in the arm or hand

From http://www.drgartsman.com/after_surgery/complications.asp,

Shoulder surgery is a complex and delicate process - complications are rare (<1%)

Procedure: Irreparable rotator cuff injury/acromioplasty*

• Injury to nerves around the shoulder - usually goes away in 2 days to 6 weeks (<1%;>
• Permanent injury - resulting in diminished use, function or feeling in the extremity (exceedingly rare)
• Infection can occur - may require antibiotics or rarely, surgery (1-2% patients)

*http://www.hopkinshospital.org/health_info/Bones/Reading/glossary.html
Acromioplasty is the most common surgical procedure for rotator cuff injuries. During this procedure, a surgeon makes an incision the size of a buttonhole, then inserts an arthroscope into the shoulder joint to view the affected area. Then surgeon then shave the underside of the acromion to increase the space between it and the injured rotator cuff tendon. This newly created space helps prevent pinching of the tendon (impingement) and irritation during shoulder movements. The surgeon may also remove damaged tissue and repair minor tears.

Procedure: Rotator cuff

• Complications involving the bone screws (suture anchors) used to reattached torn tendons - surgical removal is possible if they loosen or cause irritation (<1%>
• Infection can occur - may require antibiotics or rarely, surgery
• Wound problems - include swelling, bleeding, delayed healing, unsightly or painful scars
• Bone infection or fractures could occur
• Joint problems including stiffness or arthritis
• Incompletely restored motion, strength or function
• Nerve injury - resulting in temporary/permanent, partial/complete loss of feeling and/or movement in the arm (extremely rare)

Procedure: Contracture/scope arthritis

• Injury to the nerves around the shoulder, usually due to pressure (1-2% patients; most common)
• Permanent injury - results in diminished use, function or feeling in extremity (exceedingly rare)
• Infection can occur - may require antibiotics and rarely, surgery (1-2%)

Procedure: Labrum repair/glenohumeral repair

• Injury to nerves around the shoulder - usually go away in 2 days to 6 weeks (<1%;>
• Permanent injury - results in diminished use, function or feeling in the extremity (exceedingly rare)
• Infection can occur - may require antibiotics and rarely, surgery (<1%)
• Complications involving the bone screws - may require further surgery (extremely rare)
• Joint problems - including stiffness or arthritis
• Incompletely restored motion, strength or function