Mr. Madhavan Papanna, Shoulder and Elbow Specialist
What is Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management (CAM)?
Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management (CAM) is an arthroscopic procedure to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder. It is most common in patients over fifty, but also in younger patients including athletes, who have osteoarthritis arthritis of the shoulder of varying degrees.
The aim of the technique is to preserve the joint and delay the need for joint replacement. It alleviates pain and improves shoulder function.
What does Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management entail?
Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management procedure aims to remove loose cartilage flaps and damaged tissue around the arthritic shoulder joint. Scarred ligaments and capsule of the shoulder joint are released to restore mobility and improve function. In addition, any bony spurs or scar tissues that may be trapping the axillary nerve are debrided to decompress the nerve and relive pain.
The operation involves making a small incision/portals in the joint and an arthroscope is inserted. Surgical instruments is inserted through a second portal. Arthroscopic surgery results in less damage to the tissue around the shoulder than conventional open surgery, resulting in faster recovery times and reduced scarring.
Indications for Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management?
The Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management may be offered to you, if you are suffering from severe osteo-arthritis of the shoulder, particularly if you are too young to have a full joint replacement or if you are an athlete involved in active sports and are restricted by the loss of movement in your shoulder. The purpose is to preserve the joint and enable it to function fully again.
Recovery after the operation?
Because it uses minimally invasive techniques, recovery times for this procedure are quicker than with full joint replacement surgery. Usually, the skin wounds will heal by 7-10 days and the surgical pain will improve in two to four weeks. Following this, you will undergo physiotherapy to help regain the function of the shoulder joint, which can take between 6 to 12 weeks.
What is the long-term outcomes of Comprehensive Arthroscopic Management?
The CAM is less invasive, with a faster recovery time and a lower risk of complications than joint replacement surgery.
Delays joint replacement surgery for up to five years.
Achieve high patient satisfaction rates, with reduced pain, and improves function in majority of the patients.
As a relatively new technique, long-term outcomes remain unknown but initial results are promising.