Manipal Hospital has performed the "Arthroscopic Stabilization Procedure," a key hole surgery adopted to stabilize a dislocated shoulder.

A dedicated shoulder and sports medicine surgeon performed the procedure on a patient who had recurrent shoulder dislocation. The procedure has been conducted for the first time in Karnataka. It provides hope to all those who dislocate their shoulders often, especially sportspersons and children.

Dr. Mahesh Reddy, Consultant, orthopedic surgeon qualified in Shoulder and sports medicine was trained in University of Liverpool, UK, performed the procedure on a 24 year old patient from Mangalore. The patient had dislocated his shoulder many times while playing and had been suffering for the last few years.

The advantages of key hole surgery are that the actual pathology in the shoulder is visualized and tackled better. There is a minimal pain and the patient is discharged the following day. The shoulder gets back near complete range of motion. The rehabilitation and recovery is faster, and the person can return to work or sports early.

According to Dr. Mahesh Reddy, "Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is a rapidly developing branch in orthopedics. There are only a few centers world wide offering the service".

Shoulder problems are rampant. Young people often come with instability (unidirectional or multidirectional) or labral (Ligaments) tear of the shoulder. Older patients complain of impingement, Rotator Cuff Tears, various types of Chronic Joint Arthritis or Periarthritis. Most of these complaints are commonly reported as "frozen shoulder", which might really not be the case. If a surgical intervention is needed for most of these complaints, it can now be easily tackled using the simple 'Key Hole' or Arthroscopic Procedure.

Every time the shoulder dislocates, it rubs off a part of the articular cartilage leading to early arthritis. In an Arthroscopic Procedure, a key hole is made at the back of the shoulder. The surgeon can view the anatomy of the shoulder on a television screen through the arthroscope, repair the soft tissues and reattach them to their original position using bio-absorbable anchors that disappear in due course of time.

According to Dr. Reddy, "In the western world, shoulder dislocations are common through contact sport. In India, contact sport and road accidents are the main cause of dislocations. Arthroscopic Procedure will change the way shoulder problems are treated."