What are Capsular Tears?
Injury to the capsular structures can occur in the setting of trauma or repetitive overhead movements and most commonly involves the inferior glenohumeral ligament and axillary pouch.
What is Shoulder Capsular Repair?
Shoulder capsular repair is a surgical procedure to treat shoulder instability that does not improve with more conservative or non-surgical methods.
Shoulder capsular repair can be performed with two surgical approaches:
- Standard open surgery through a capsular shift in which an incision is made over the anterior (front) of the shoulder.
- Arthroscopic surgery where small incisions on the shoulder joint are made followed by insertion of an arthroscope into the joint.
Postoperative Care and Recovery
After the surgery, the small surgical wounds take a few days to heal and the surgical dressing is replaced by simple Band-Aids. The recovery time depends on the type and extent of problem for which the procedure was performed. Pain medications are prescribed to keep you comfortable. The arm of the affected shoulder is placed in a sling for a short period as recommended by your doctor. Physical therapy is advised to improve shoulder mobility and strength after the surgery.
Risks and Complications
Complications are the same as with any surgery which include infection, bleeding, damage to nearby nerves or blood vessels, or delayed healing after the surgery. In certain cases, stiffness of the shoulder joint may occur after the surgery. It is important to participate actively in your physical therapy to prevent this from occurring.