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97-Year-Old Awake During Shoulder Surgery
21 Jul
Summary
- A 97-year-old received a biodegradable balloon spacer for a rotator cuff tear.
- The arthroscopic procedure was performed under regional nerve block, not general anesthesia.
- The balloon spacer dissolves over months, leaving no permanent implants.
A 97-year-old man recently underwent a groundbreaking arthroscopic procedure to address a massive, irreparable rotator cuff tear in his left shoulder.
Due to his advanced age and fragile cardiac health, surgeons at Rela Hospital skillfully avoided general anesthesia. Instead, the procedure was performed under a regional nerve block, allowing the patient to remain fully awake during the surgery.
The innovative treatment involved the insertion of a fully biodegradable balloon spacer. This dissolvable implant is designed for irreparable rotator cuff tears. Once inflated with sterile saline within the shoulder joint, it acts as a cushion, properly centering the ball of the shoulder and restoring its natural gliding mechanism.
This technique effectively eliminates painful bone-on-bone friction, enabling improved arm movement. Over a period of several months, the balloon spacer gradually dissolves, leaving behind no permanent implants or screws.
