When do I need surgery for a calcified shoulder?
An operation to treat a calcified shoulder is a relatively minor procedure, also known as arthroscopic calcified shoulder depotency removal. Usually the calcium deposits in the tissue of the shoulder are removed in a minimally invasive procedure. In this procedure, an endoscope with a camera and special surgical instruments are inserted into the shoulder joint through small skin incisions.
The surgeon uses the camera to locate the visible calcium deposits and removes them with a sharp spoon. The wound is then rinsed thoroughly to remove even small calcium particles from the joint. The removal of the calcium creates a notch in the tendon, which heals on its own.
The advantage of a minimally invasive operation is that only small wounds are caused by the procedure, which means that the risk of infection is low. In addition, the wounds heal quickly and the joint can be moved again after a short time. In severe cases, where a minimally invasive removal of the calcific deposits is not possible, the calcific shoulder must be operated conventionally.
This involves opening the skin and the underlying fat and muscle layers through an incision several centimeters long. After the calcium deposit has been removed, the wound is sutured again. The operation lasts a maximum of 45 minutes, is performed under general or local anesthesia and can be performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis.
Do I need anesthesia for a calcified shoulder operation?
General anesthesia is not absolutely necessary for the operation of a calcified shoulder. Many clinicians also perform a so-called interscale plexus blockade, in which only the nerves of the diseased shoulder are specifically anaesthetized. Local anesthetics are injected into the plexus. This procedure is a relatively simple procedure with few risks. Ultimately, the surgeon decides which type of anesthesia is best used and discusses it with the patient before the operation.
What are the risks of surgery?
Like any surgical procedure, the operation of a calcified shoulder is associated with certain risks. However, unlike other operations, this is a minor procedure and the risks are correspondingly low. The operation can cause bruising (haematomas) and pain on the operated shoulder.
Rarely it is possible that a blood clot (thrombosis) forms after the operation, which is carried along with the blood stream and, for example, blocks a vessel in the lung (embolism). Theoretically, bleeding can also occur during the operation, but since there are no large vessels or important nerves in the operated region, this is rather unlikely. Small vessels are directly blocked (“cauterized”) by electric current during the treatment.
In less than one percent of cases, germs can enter the wound through the operation and lead to inflammation and wound healing disorders. Signs of wound infection are increasing pain and possibly fever, which does not appear until several days after the surgical procedure. The wound swells, becomes warm and is heavily reddened. Since arthroscopic removal of calcium depot from the shoulder is usually performed in a minimally invasive manner, the risk of wound infection is extremely low.
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