Chondrolysis
Edited By: Frederick A. Matsen III, M.D.
Last updated Thursday, February 04, 2010
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Chondrolysis
Chondrolysis of the shoulder after arthroscopy - association with pain pumps to infuse local anesthetics after shoulder arthroscopy. Chondrolysis is a severe type of shoulder arthritis in which the
cartilage of the joint is abruptly lost. It can occur in otherwise
healthy shoulders after arthroscopic procedures. The risk of
chondrolysis is increased when local anesthetics - either Bupivacaine
(Marcaine) or Lidocaine (Xylocaine) - are infused into the joint for
postoperative pain control. The inclusion of epinephrine in the
infusion may further increase the risk. The risk of chondrolysis is
also increased when radiofrequency or thermal energy are used in the
joint.
Treatment of shoulder chondrolysis may require a ream
and run procedure, or a total shoulder.
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| Humeral head with chondrolysis |
Glenoid with chondrolysis |
At the University of Washington Shoulder and Elbow Service we are seeing increasing numbers of patients referred with chondrolysis of the shoulder (glenohumeral joint). To date each of these cases has been associated with shoulder arthroscopy and the post-arthroscopic infusion of local anesthetics. The X-ray appearance and the surgical pathology consistently demonstrate the complete loss of articular cartilage, not the focal loss that might be associated with mechanical damage from, for example, suture anchors. In none of these cases did infection or the use of intra-articular radiofrequency energy appear to be associated factors. Below are a series of radiographs and surgical photographs from these patients presented to demonstrate the characteristic features of this condition. Each of the patients was between 21 and 45 years of age and each had an arthroscopic procedure to address instability or a SLAP tear.
Radiographs / X-rays
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| Anteroposterior View |
Axillary View |
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Surgical Photos
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| Humeral Head |
Glenoid |
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Surgery for Chondrolysis at the University of Washington, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Seattle, Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure in Seattle, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-BONE (2663) to make an appointment. Our clinical center is located in Seattle Washington, USADisclaimer
This resource has been provided by the University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine as general information only. This information may not apply to a specific patient. Additional information may be found at http://www.orthop.washington.edu or by contacting the UW Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
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