Subacromial Decompression- What is it ?

Basic Shoulder Anatomy

This video shows the basic anatomy of the shoulder joint. It will help you understand some of the terminology used by an orthopaedic surgeon or any other health professional involved in the care of your shoulder. For more help click here to find out more animations, diagrams and information.

3D rotator cuff surgery

This 3D animation (from BioDigital Systems) shows a tear of the supraspinatus tendon, one of the 4 tendons that helps move the shoulder। This tendon helps move the arm out to the side and in front of the body. Tears like this can cause weakness and pain of the shoulder. The video shows how the tendon can be repaired by either keyhole or open surgery. Usually preloaded anchors with sutures are inserted into the ball (humeral head) at the insertion point of the torn tendon. The sutures are then passed through the end of the torn tendon to secure it back to the bone when the sutures are tied approximating the tendon toward the anchor within the bone. You will also see a piece of bone removed at the end which is the acromial hook and this increases the space between the rotator cuff and the acromion the plate of bone that roofs the tendon. This space is called the subacromial space. You can see an intraoperative video of this proceedure performed arthroscopically click here.