Preparation for arthroscopy

Abstract

Arthroscopy of the glenohumeral joint and bursoscopy of the subacromial space are becoming increasingly important for both establishing a diagnosis and, in particular, for the treatment of the injuries and diseases of the shoulder joint. Careful physical examination and assessment by modern imaging techniques provide for accurate diagnosis and may indicate the need for arthroscopic intervention. Purely diagnostic arthroscopy can be performed on an outpatient basis, especially when regional anesthesia is used. In this case all patients undergo thorough medical examination at our own anesthesia outpatient department prior to the operation. This helps to keep the incidence of complications to a minimum. For shoulder arthroscopic surgery we find it helpful to standardize positioning, draping and instrumentation in order to guarantee a smooth procedure.