Post-Surgery Instructions
SHOULDER JOINT ARTHROSCOPY
Many diseases and injuries in the shoulder joint are treated arthroscopically. A characteristic of all
arthroscopic procedures on the shoulder is the minimum invasiveness of the surgery techniques used
to perform the planned surgery via an endoscope and modified instruments without any greater
trauma to the surrounding tissue. The course and speed of the postoperative rehabilitation depends
significantly on the type of procedure performed on the shoulder, which the protocol of
postoperative rehabilitation is adjusted to. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or oral analgesia
are usually prescribed to relieve pain after the surgery; to decrease shoulder swelling, resting the
arm is required and several days of cooling the shoulder joint with ice or cold packs. The first day
after surgery, it is possible that the analgesics may cause a feeling of tiredness and nausea, which
later gradually passes.
Post-surgery physical activity:
The scope of permitted physical activity after the surgery depends directly on the type of procedure
performed. For all types of procedure, it is generally recommended that the arm is rested in an arm
sling or in a special arm support during the first days after surgery. The shoulder should be cooled
with ice or cold packs several times a day. For at least one week after the surgery, no operation of
motor vehicles is allowed. For procedures that prohibit the active movement in the shoulder for up
to 6 weeks after surgery, no operation of vehicles is allowed for the entire period of rest, namely
until the end of the 6th week after surgery. Depending on the type of procedure performed, the
following recommendations might apply:
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Shoulder acromioplasty - During the first days after the pain subsides, you can start
performing active movement in the shoulder, but only to an extent that does not cause any
distinct pain.
Reconstruction of the rotator cuff tear - It is important to strictly avoid any active movement
in the shoulder area until the end of the 6th week after surgery (under special conditions, the
period may be even longer). After the 3rd or 4th week, it is possible to start passively moving
the shoulder under the guidance of a physical therapist. A detailed rehabilitation programme
shall be prescribed for you by your surgeon at your first check-up.
Stabilisation of the shoulder joint – For the first three weeks after surgery, you should avoid
outside rotation movements through the neutral position. Until the 6th week after surgery,
the range of outside rotation should then gradually increase. Until the 3rd month after
surgery, no sports activities are allowed. Until the 6th month after surgery, contact sports
should be avoided.
Biceps tenodesis - Until the 6th week after the operation, contracting of the elbow against
resistance is not allowed. After the pain subsides, you can start performing gentle passive
exercises and active exercises to an extent that is not painful.
Removing rotator cuff calcinations - In the majority of cases, it is allowed to perform active
exercises after the pain subsides. In exceptional circumstances, the removal of larger
calcinations can require a reconstruction of the defect in the rotator cuff tendon. In this case,
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the rehabilitation procedure is similar to the procedure for the reconstruction of the rotator
cuff tear.
Resection of the distal clavicle - During the first days after pain subsides, you can already
start performing active movements in the shoulder, but only to an extent that does not cause
any distinct pain.
Care for the operation wound:
 Immediately after surgery, it is very important to take care of the wound, because this
decreases the risk of postoperative wound infection. Sticking plasters or bandages must be
clean and dry. The bandages are generally first redressed 1 to 2 days after the surgery.
Depending on the healing of the wound, the general practitioner then decides if/when the
next bandage redressing will be required. If the wound is dry and shows no signs of infection,
it is usually sufficient if the bandages are redressed after 5 to 7 days. Skin stitches are
removed 10 to 14 days after surgery, usually by a general practitioner.
 It is important that the wound does not come into contact with water. If the sticking plaster
or bandage gets wet or if blood seeps through it, the wound has to be redressed.
 No showering or any type of wetting the wound is allowed until all wounds are healed and
the stitches are removed.
Pain management:
 Repeated cooling of the shoulder after surgery with cold packs or ice decreases
postoperative swelling and pain.
 Resting the arm also helps decrease shoulder swelling.
 Take analgesics regularly, as prescribed. When taking analgesics, alcohol consumption is
prohibited.
Rehabilitation after the Shoulder Arthroscopy:
Rehabilitation after arthroscopic procedures on the shoulder joint is very important, complex and in
some cases relatively long. For a good end result of the treatment, quality individual physical therapy
following a programme adapted for the surgery procedure performed and to the patient’s individual
particularities is key.
If you also wish to carry out your postoperative rehabilitation at our institution, our physical
therapist, after consulting with the surgeon, will prepare and manage your individual rehabilitation
programme. The physical therapy programme includes various analgesic radiation and methods that
facilitate the faster healing of tissue, passive exercises and active exercises as well as manual
massage of the operated joint. During the programme, you will also learn to perform all the exercises
so you will be able, in certain stages of the rehabilitation, to significantly contribute to improving the
end result of the treatment.
IN THE CASE OF SERIOUS SWELLING OF THE SHOULDER, SEVERE PAIN, A DISTINCT REDNESS OF THE
SHOULDER OR INCREASED BODY TEMPERATURE, CALL US IMMEDIATELY ON 00 386 1 518 7063, OR
OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS ON 00 386 40 799 622
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WE WISH YOU A FAST RECOVERY!
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