Few areas in orthopaedics have witnessed the type of exponential growth that has characterized the current field of arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Certainly a debt of gratitude is owed the early pioneers (both open and arthroscopic), whose pas- sion and skill fostered today's phenomenon. Rapid advances in imaging, electronic communication, instrumentation, and implant technology, have "suddenly" per- mitted arthroscopic access to problems once exclusively the province of the open surgeon. Pioneering work by Lanny Johnson, Dick Caspari, Harv Ellman (and oth- ers) further facilitated the application of these emerging technologies into a prac- tical and useful new skill set. Today, with few exceptions, most shoulders re- quiring surgical intervention can be thoroughly assessed, and in many cases, definitively treated arthroscopically. Yet, and perhaps a consequence of the rather rapid evolution of these tech- niques, few single-source references are available for either the "would be" shoul- der arthroscopist or the experienced clinician looking to hone his/her arthroscopic skills about the shoulder. The purpose of this text is to address this deficiency and provide the orthopaedic and arthroscopic community with a single definitive "how to" technical reference on operative shoulder arthroscopy. In keeping with this initiative, our goal was to assemble a group of authors who themselves were responsible for developing the techniques described, learning firsthand how "they do it. " We are indebted to these contributors for their time and effort, and be- lieve they have provided a wealth of valuable information that will enhance our technical understanding.

With the dramatic evolution of shoulder arthroscopy techniques over the past five years, practitioners must search through numerous educational resources to learn about specific indications and definitive techniques. The field of orthopaedics lacks an all-encompassing text that is strictly and exclusively devoted to shoulder arthroscopy. Drs. James Tibone, Felix Savoie III, and Benjamin Shaffer have assembled the leading authorities in shoulder arthroscopy to provide the practitioner with invaluable information on the most cutting edge procedures to treat impingement problems, frozen shoulder, calcific tendonitis, and shoulder instability. This comprehensive, practical volume is enhanced with striking illustrations, detailing the surgical technique from positioning to closure. The chapter format gives introductory comments about disease/disorder, clinical presentation, surgical indications/patient selection, contraindications, surgical techniques, results, complications and pitfalls. There are also selected references and recommended readings at the end of each chapter. Shoulder Arthroscopy will be essential for all practicing orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine and shoulder specialists who want to expand their expertise in this area.