Arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder.

Arthroscopy of the shoulder is well established as a diagnostic procedure. It carries a greater degree of accuracy than conventional imaging techniques and in addition allows the assessment of instability and the degree of mechanical derangement inside the joint. Arthroscopic surgical procedures in the shoulder are in the developing stage. Arthroscopic acromioplasty for impingement syndrome has been shown to be a safe, effective procedure and probably better than conventional surgery. In the older patient, arthroscopic debridement of the rotator cuff is very effective at relieving pain. Arthroscopic surgery for removal of loose bodies and of a torn glenoid labrum would be the current recommended procedure rather than open surgery. Other rapidly developing areas of potential benefit are in the arthroscopic stabilisation of the dislocating shoulder and synovectomy of the shoulder in rheumatoid arthritis and other synovial conditions. The role of arthroscopy in the frozen shoulder is not clearly established although certainly it is the diagnostic tool of first choice in this condition.