Shoulder Bursectomy Overview
Overlying the rotator cuff is the bursa, a very thin layer of synovial tissue or joint lining, which normally permits the rotator cuff to move smoothly underneath the acromion. When this area becomes inflamed due to overuse or arthritis, the patient is often woken up at night by the pain or experiences pain when using the arm overhead.

Shoulder Bursectomy Surgery
The treatment of this inflamed bursa initially is non-operative with physical therapy and sometimes cortisone and anti-inflammatory medications. When that fails, surgical resection of the bursa can be performed at an outpatient surgery center under a local anesthetic, removing the thickened and inflamed tissue to permit the rotator cuff to have normal, unrestricted motion. Rehabilitation is relatively rapid after a bursectomy as normalization is required and activities are progressively regained over the course of 3 - 4 weeks.