Arthroscopic Acromioplasty

What you should know

Arthroscopic acromioplasty is surgery to smooth out a part of your scapula called the acromion. Caregivers will insert a small, bendable tube with a camera on the end to see inside your shoulder.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

• You may bleed, bruise, or get an infection from surgery. You may have stiffness or trouble moving your arm and shoulder. If weights were used during surgery, you may have numbness and tingling in your arm. After surgery, you may still have weakness and pain. Your tendon may tear again, and you may need more surgery. You may get a blood clot in your arm. The blood clot can break loose, travel to your lungs, and cause chest pain and trouble breathing. This can be life-threatening.
  
  
• If you have a rotator cuff tear that is not fixed during surgery, this surgery may make it harder to fix at a later date. If you do not have this surgery, your pain may increase. You may not be able to lift your arm over your head or do other daily activities. Your shoulder may swell and change shape.

Getting Ready

Before your surgery:

• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop using aspirin or any other prescribed or over-the-counter medicine before your procedure or surgery.
  
  
• You may need an x-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI . Tell the caregiver if you have ever had an allergic reaction to contrast dye. to help your caregiver to see the shape of your acromion. The tests can also help him look for damage in your rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles that attach to your scapula and help you move your upper arm and shoulder. These tests help caregivers plan your surgery.
  
  
• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your surgery.

The night before your surgery:

• Ask caregivers about directions for eating and drinking.
  
  

The day of your surgery:

• Ask your caregiver before you take any medicine on the day of your surgery. Bring a list of all the medicines you take, or your pill bottles, with you to the hospital. Caregivers will check that your medicines will not interact poorly with the medicine you need for surgery.
  
  
• An anesthesiologist may talk to you before your surgery. This caregiver may give you medicine to make you sleepy before your procedure or surgery. Tell your caregiver if you or anyone in your family has had a problem using anesthesia in the past.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives caregivers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.

Treatment

What will happen:

A small incision will be made in your shoulder. Your caregiver will insert a scope through the incision. He may make more small incisions to put in other tools. He will shave down the parts of your bone that are pressing on your tendons. He may remove swollen or damaged tissue in your shoulder. He may also fix tears in your rotator cuff.

After surgery:

• You will be taken to a room where you can rest. Caregivers will watch you closely for any problems. Later, you will be taken to your hospital room, or you may be able to go home. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is okay. A bandage may cover your stitches or staples. This bandage keeps the area clean and dry to help prevent infection.
  
  
• Your arm may be placed in an abduction immobilizer sling. This sling stops your arm from moving. The pillow attached to the sling holds your arm away from your body. This position decreases pressure on the surgery area, and helps blood flow to the area. This may help it heal. Your caregiver may put a cold pack on the surgery area to reduce swelling and pain.

Contact a caregiver if

• The pain in your shoulder or arm is getting worse.
  
  
• You have a fever.

Seek Care Immediately if

• Your arm suddenly feels numb or begins to tingle.