Shoulder Arthroscopy NYC — Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery at NYBJ

Procedure time varies depending on what is being addressed. Subacromial decompression alone takes approximately 30–45 minutes. Rotator cuff repair takes 60–90 minutes for most tears. SLAP repair and Bankart repair each take 45–75 minutes. Combined procedures — rotator cuff repair with biceps tenodesis, for example — take 90–120 minutes. All procedures are performed under general anesthesia with an interscalene nerve block for post-operative pain control.

For most shoulder conditions — rotator cuff tears, SLAP tears, Bankart lesions, biceps pathology, impingement — arthroscopy is the preferred approach with equivalent or superior outcomes and faster recovery than open surgery. [1] Open surgery is reserved for specific situations: large anterior bone loss requiring a Latarjet procedure, massive irreparable rotator cuff tears requiring allograft reconstruction, and complex revision cases. Dr. Popovitz selects the approach based on the anatomy and pathology, not technique preference.

A double-row rotator cuff repair uses two rows of suture anchors to reattach the torn rotator cuff to its anatomical footprint on the greater tuberosity of the humerus. [2] The medial row anchors the tendon at the articular margin; the lateral row compresses the tendon flat against the bone at the lateral footprint. The critical advantage is biological: double-row fixation recreates native tendon-to-bone contact area and pressure across the entire footprint, distributes mechanical load evenly across the repair site, and dramatically reduces gap formation during the early healing phase — the period when most re-tears occur. Traditional single-row repair, which uses only one row of anchors, leaves a portion of the footprint uncovered and under-compressed, producing higher tension at the repair margin and significantly higher re-tear rates. New York Bone & Joint’s use of double-row repair for most full-thickness tears corresponds to our re-tear rate of 2–4% versus the published single-row benchmark of 10–20%. [2]

Recovery after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair depends on tear size. Small and medium tears: sling for 4–6 weeks, active physical therapy begins at 6–8 weeks, return to desk work at 2–4 weeks, return to sport at 4–6 months. Large and massive tears require longer protection: sling for 6 weeks, active PT beginning at 8–10 weeks, return to full overhead sport at 6–9 months. All return-to-sport clearance is criteria-based — strength symmetry and functional testing, not calendar-based. [2]

A SLAP (Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior) tear is a tear of the superior portion of the glenoid labrum at the attachment of the long head of the biceps tendon. [3] It is most common in overhead athletes — baseball pitchers, tennis players, swimmers, volleyball players — who generate high rotational forces at the shoulder, and in patients who sustain a traction or fall-on-outstretched-hand injury. Symptoms include deep shoulder pain, a catching or clicking sensation, and loss of velocity or confidence in overhead throwing. Diagnosis requires high-resolution MRI arthrogram.

A Bankart repair is the arthroscopic repair of the anterior glenoid labrum (Bankart lesion) that tears during an anterior shoulder dislocation. [4] After a first dislocation, the recurrence rate in young athletes is 30–50% without surgery. Each subsequent dislocation tears away more labral tissue and causes additional bone loss. The Bankart repair is recommended after a first dislocation in young active patients with a Bankart lesion on MRI, and after a second dislocation in any active patient. New York Bone & Joint re-dislocation rate after Bankart repair is less than 4%.

Yes — arthroscopic Bankart repair is the primary surgical treatment for recurrent shoulder instability from anterior labral tears. [4] It restores the anterior labral bumper that prevents the humeral head from sliding forward out of the socket. For patients with significant anterior glenoid bone loss (more than 20–25% of the glenoid width), arthroscopic repair alone has higher failure rates and an open Latarjet procedure — which transfers the coracoid bone to the anterior glenoid — is recommended instead.

Most major insurance plans cover shoulder arthroscopy when the procedure is medically indicated and documented. Coverage typically requires failure of conservative management (physical therapy, injections), imaging confirmation of pathology (MRI or MRI arthrogram), and pre-authorization from the insurance carrier. Our team handles pre-authorization and verifies your specific coverage before scheduling any procedure. Call 212-759-4553 or book online.