Shoulder Arthroscopy

Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery where a doctor fixes problems inside your shoulder using a tiny camera and slim tools through a few small cuts.

Think of it like sending a mini camera into a squeaky, jammed door hinge to see what’s wrong and tune it up.

Why it’s done

• Repair a torn rotator cuff or labrum
• Treat shoulder instability (frequent dislocations)
• Remove bone spurs or inflamed tissue causing impingement
• Clean out loose pieces

Shorter wait times

Consults and surgery dates are typically scheduled in weeks—not months—which means faster relief and return to work, sport, and caregiving duties.

Choice & control

Ability to choose a surgeon based on what's important to you (i.e. specific expertise, experience, qualifications, personal connection).

Certainty

Private pathways typically provide a clear quote and surgery date/timeline, so you can arrange time off, caregiver help, and rehab. This certainty can ease anxiety and help families plan for recovery.

Preventing further decline

• Symptom progression: Ongoing mechanical issues (e.g., impingement, labral tears, recurrent instability) can worsen pain, sleep, and function.
• Tissue quality: For certain rotator cuff tears, earlier repair may help preserve tendon quality and reduce retraction/fatty degeneration that can make later repair harder or less successful.
• Performance and prevention: Restores mechanics sooner, reducing compensatory problems in the neck, back, and opposite shoulder; may lower risk of recurrent dislocations in instability cases.
• Quality of life: Reduces time living with activity limits, repeated steroid injections, and uncertainty.

1. ‍Confirm your diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that shoulder arthroscopy is needed.
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2. Research. Explore surgeons who specialize in private shoulder arthroscopy.
   • You can find surgeons in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
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3. Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
   
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
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4. Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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5. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
   
   • Because the procedure is not covered by your provincial health plan when done privately, you’ll need to review the quoted cost and consider payment options (out-of-pocket, private insurance, or financing).
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6. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
   
   • Plan for travel and accommodation, since the surgery will likely take place outside your home province.
   • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.

Shoulder arthroscopy takes 45 to 120 minutes, depending on the extent of the underlying problem.

• Anesthesia: You’re asleep or very sleepy; often a nerve block for pain.
• Position: Shoulder is prepped; arm positioned carefully.
• Small cuts: 2–4 tiny incisions for a camera and slim tools.
• Inspect: Salty fluid expands the joint; surgeon checks rotator cuff, labrum, biceps, cartilage.
• Fix: Clean inflamed tissue, smooth bone spurs, repair tears with tiny anchors and stitches, or remove loose pieces.
• Rinse and test motion.
• Close incisions with small stitches/strips, bandage.

The recovery process varies patient to patient. Your recovery might look quite different, so please seek further guidance from your surgeon. In general here is what you can expect:

Week 1:

• Pain, discomfort, emotion, more pain, stiffness, frustration. Week 1 is not fun.
• Goals: Pain management, wound care, inflammation control, little to no arm movement.

• Activities:
  
  • Depending on your clinic and circumstances, you might get same day discharge or recover in the clinic for 1-2 days.
  • Wearing a sling, even while sleeping, using pillows to keep shoulder still and comfortable through the night.
  • Pain medication management and wound care (it will be advantageous to have a friend, family member, or caretaker support you for both in the first few days).

Weeks 2-4:

• The next 3 weeks are still characterized by significant discomfort, swelling, frustration, and emotional highs and lows.
• Goals: Physical therapy for passive range of motion, keeping wound clean.

• Activities:
  
  • Tapering off use of the sling.
  • Passive range of motion exercises focusing on flexion and abduction limited to 90 degrees.
  • Keeping arm still to avoid tearing the muscle again while it's healing.
  • Sleeping in a reclined position or with a pillow under the operative arm.
  • Return to work that does not involve manual labor.

Weeks 5-12:

• Focus and diligence on exercises are starting to pay off.
• Goals: Start active range of motion exercises, slowly regaining strength.

• Activities:
  
  • Discontinuing your sling
  • Physical therapy progresses to active range of motion and light strengthening exercises
  • May begin lifting up to 5lbs (as directed by your surgeon)
  • Return to driving
  • Gradually returning to sleep in a normal position (but not on the side of the operative arm)
  • Regain the ability to do normal front of body activities like brushing teeth and combing hair.

Weeks 13-52:

• The worst of the recovery is likely behind you. But you'll need to stay on top of physical therapy and listen carefully to your body in the year post operation (and beyond).
• Goals: Return to low impact sports and hobbies, achieve 90% strength symmetry between shoulders, focus on long-term shoulder health.

• Activities:
  
  • Physical therapy may continue the entire first year post operation, gradually bringing you back to your activity levels pre-surgery.
  • Returning to work activities involving overhead lifting (as directed by your surgeon).
  • Regain the ability to perform behind the back activities like fastening clothing.
  • You may be able to return to low impact sports like golf, tennis, swimming, or cycling. For anything high impact, please consult your surgeon and physio. Most functional recovery happens within one year of surgery, but many patients need to continue working up to pre-injury levels of activity for up to 1.5 years.

Shoulder arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery, however the costs are significant and very because of the potential complexity involved in certain instances. Private clinics in Canada typically charge $5,000 to $16,000.

In the United States, the costs vary even more: CA$9,660 to CA$43,670.

Costs vary so much because of location, surgeon experience, facility type, scopy of potential treatments, complexity of the issue, and included services (some clinics offer all-inclusive, while others charge separately for anesthesia, followup care, etc.).

What’s included

Most quotes for private shoulder arthroscopy cover:

• Surgeon fee (and assistant if used) and anesthesiologist/general anesthesia.
• Facility fees (OR time, nursing, supplies, arthroscopy equipment).
• Standard implants/anchors for routine repairs (often a set number included—confirm how many).
• Immediate post‑op recovery care and routine early follow‑ups (wound check, suture removal).
• Basic sling and initial rehab instructions (varies by clinic).

What’s usually not included:

• Pre‑op consults and advanced imaging beyond basics (MRI, MRI‑arthrogram).
• Extra anchors/specialty implants beyond the included amount.
• Unexpected overnight admission or ER visits; additional imaging for complications.
• Formal physiotherapy/occupational therapy beyond initial guidance.
• Post‑discharge medications (pain meds, anti‑nausea).
• Travel and accommodation if out‑of‑province.
• Fees for complication management or re‑operations beyond the routine global period (policy dependent).

Insurance and financing options

• Private health insurance: Some plans may cover part of the costs, such as hospital fees. It’s important to check your policy directly.
• Financing plans: Many clinics offer monthly payment options to help spread out the cost. Learn more about your financing options here.‍
• Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC): This is a non-refundable credit that reduces your taxes when you pay out-of-pocket for eligible medical expenses. Learn more about how to claim METC for private surgeries.

Choosing your surgeon is one of the benefits of going the private route. Here’s what to consider and the key questions to bring to your shoulder arthroscopy consultation.

What to look for

• Experience and volume
  • Ask how many shoulder arthroscopies they perform each year and their mix (rotator cuff repair, labral/Bankart/SLAP repair, biceps tenodesis, decompression). Higher volume often means smoother care.
• Credentials and training
  • Confirm licensure with the provincial college (e.g., CPSO in Ontario, CPSBC in BC, CPSA in Alberta).
  • Look for FRCSC-certified orthopaedic surgeons with a sports/shoulder fellowship. Some plastic surgeons also do shoulder arthroscopy; verify scope and hospital privileges.
• Specialization and outcomes
  • Ask about reoperation rates, infection rates, stiffness rates, return‑to‑sport timelines, and for instability cases, recurrence rates after repair.
• Technique and anesthesia
  • Do they offer both debridement and repair, and when do they choose each? What repair constructs do they use (single vs double row, knotless anchors)?
  • Do they routinely use regional nerve blocks for pain control? WALANT is uncommon for shoulder; clarify anesthesia approach.
• Imaging and planning
  • Comfort interpreting MRI/MR‑arthrogram and correlating with exam; policy on when to add biceps procedures or address AC joint spurs.
• Facility accreditation‍
  
  • Make sure the clinic is accredited by national bodies such as Accreditation Canada or the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (CAAASF).‍
• Rehab integration‍
  
  • Access to shoulder‑savvy physiotherapy, clear phased protocol, and communication with your local therapist if you’re traveling.

Questions to ask during your shoulder arthroscopy consultation

Surgeon and surgery plan

• How many shoulder arthroscopies (and of my specific procedure) do you perform yearly? What are your complication and reoperation rates?
• For impingement, do you remove bone spurs or address the AC joint? When and why?
• What anesthesia do you recommend (general with regional block)? Same‑day discharge expected?
• Where will the surgery be performed (ambulatory center vs hospital)? Is it fully accredited?

Recovery and aftercare

• Sling: How long, and when can I start passive/active motion?
• Timelines: When can I type/drive, return to desk work vs manual work, start strengthening, and return to sport?
• Physio: How often early on, and do you provide a written rehab protocol for my therapist?
• Pain plan: Do you use a nerve block and multimodal meds? How do you manage nausea/sleep?
• Red flags: What should prompt me to call or go to the ER?
• Communication: Who is my point of contact after surgery and typical response times?

Costs and logistics

• What exactly is included in my quote (surgeon, facility, anesthesia, number/type of anchors, sling, follow‑ups)?
• What could add cost (extra anchors, biceps procedure, unexpected overnight stay, complications)?
• If complications occur or a revision is needed, how are costs handled? Do you have a revision policy?
• For out‑of‑province patients: Which follow‑ups can be virtual? What records will I receive (op note, anchor list, rehab protocol) for my local care team/insurer?