I just had surgery on my shoulder 10 days ago. An X-ray shows the screw holding the cartilage in place is poking into the joint causing problems. I really don’t want to have another operation. Will this get better on its own?

Your doctor can best advise you on this matter. A recent report on five cases of this type suggests early treatment is best. A second operation to revise the first procedure can remove and reposition the screw before further damage is done.

Waiting too long resulted in a poor outcome for the five men in this study. The tip of the screw scraped the joint cartilage causing destructive damage. After a second operation, all five men reported pain and were unhappy with the results. The revision surgery wasn’t done for a full year after the first operation.

The researchers suggest immediate revision in cases of this type.