Arthroscopic proceduresare commonly used to treat shoulder injuries and conditions. When compared to traditional open surgery, arthroscopic surgery is less invasive, requires less heal time, causes less blood loss, and is less painful than open surgical techniques. In addition to repairing injuries, arthroscopic procedures can inspect and diagnose problems inside a joint. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and four tendons in the shoulder joint that allow the shoulder to both move freely and remain in place. A rotator cuff tear occurs when a muscle or tendon in the rotator cuff is torn.