Arthroscopy of the shoulder.

Between December 1979 and June 1982, 74 arthroscopic examinations of the shoulder were done at our institution. Arthroscopy was done in 28 shoulders to evaluate glenohumeral instability, in 23 to assess the joint and tendons before acromioplasty for chronic supraspinatus tendinitis, in 8 to diagnose or stage arthritic diseases, in 7 to define rotator cuff tears, in 3 to assess long-standing periarthritis, in 2 to visualize intra-articular fractures, in 2 to treat infections, and in 1 to evaluate the extent of pigmented villonodular synovitis. Examination of the shoulder with the patient under anesthesia, rather than arthroscopy itself, was more useful in the patients with shoulder instability. In chronic tendinitis, identification of undersurface rotator cuff tears by arthroscopy led to specific treatment. Arthroscopy was valuable in staging intra-articular arthritic diseases and in evaluating articular fractures. It can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of acute infections. Arthroscopy is of minimal value in the assessment of rotator cuff tears and periarthritis or in the treatment of chronic infections.