Elective Surgical Procedures
Rotator Cuff Repair
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that provide stability to the shoulder joint. Weakness, pain and restricted movement can be a result when the rotator cuff becomes damaged.
Peterborough's Choice for Rotator Cuff Repairs
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that provide stability to the shoulder joint. Weakness, pain and restricted movement can be a result when the rotator cuff becomes damaged. In many cases, the rotator cuff can be repaired, or rehabilitated with therapy However in very large tears your orthopaedic surgeon may recommend a reverse shoulder replacement. In these cases a reverse shoulder replacement may be a better way to reduce pain and improve the joints function.
In a reverse shoulder replacement the normal ball-and-socket structure of the shoulder is reversed. An artificial ball is attached to the shoulder blade, while a socket is attached to the arm bone. The deltoid muscle that overlays the shoulder joint is then responsible for moving the arm.
Most patients will achieve significant pain relief following surgery. Shoulder motion may not be fully restored, however it is typically improved following surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rotator Cuff Repair
Those that have a large full thickness rotator cuff tear. -Those that have not responded to non-surgical treatment and are still having significant pain and impaired use of the arm.
Arthroscopic repair is the least invasive and most common method for rotator cuff repair. A small incision is made in the shoulder and the surgeon inserts a small camera into the shoulder joint. The surgeon uses these images to guide small instruments to reattach the tendon.
- Pain is a normal part of the recovery process, and full recovery may take several months, to restore normal movement of the arm or 6 months to return to heavy labor.
- Everyone recovers at different rates and is dependent on the size of your tear, previous pain levels, motion, and strength of the shoulder.
- As your shoulder motion, strength and function improves, pain typically subsides.
- Most people typically regain functional strength and motion within 4-6 months.
- Immobilization: You will likely wear a sling for the first 2-4 weeks to allow for proper healing of the tendon.
- Passive Exercise: Once it is determined safe to do so, a therapist will guide you through passive exercises to improve range of motion in the shoulder. During passive exercises a therapist will support your arm and move it in different directions while you relax.
- Active Exercise: During this stage you will progress to doing active exercises without the help of a therapist. This will require you to actively use your own muscle to gradually build strength in the muscles
Surgical intervention for a rotator cuff repair may be recommended if your surgeon thinks you may benefit from it, or if non-surgical treatment has been unsuccessful in reducing your pain. There are a few options for repairing rotator cuff tears, however they all have the same goal of reattaching the tendon to the bone. A partial tear may only require a trimming, or smoothing procedure called a debridement. There are three common techniques for rotator cuff repairs. In the end, patient’s rate improvement of pain, movement and function the same for all three methods.
Open Repair: This type of repair is often chosen for larger or complex tears. The surgeon makes an incision over the shoulder and detaches one of the shoulder muscles to better see and gain access to the torn tendon.
Arthroscopic Repair: Arthroscopic Repair is the least invasive method for rotator cuff repair. During arthroscopy your surgeon makes a small incision and inserts a small camera into the shoulder joint. The surgeon uses these images to guide small instruments to reattach the tendon.
Mini-Open Repair: A mini-open repair requires a small incision to be made in the shoulder. The surgeon often uses an arthroscopy technique to assess and treat other issues within the shoulder. Once the arthroscopy procedure is complete the surgeon repairs the tendon by viewing it directly rather than on camera.
Recovery
Pain is a normal part of the recovery process following a rotator cuff repair. As your shoulder motion, strength and function improves, pain typically subsides. Full recovery takes several months. Everyone recovers at different rates and is dependent on the size of your tear, previous pain levels, motion, and strength of the shoulder. Most people typically regain functional strength and motion within 4-6 months, however is dependent on many factors. Rehabilitation is typically progressed in stages:
- Immobilization: You will likely wear a sling for the first 4-6 weeks to allow for proper healing of the tendon.
- Passive Exercise: Once it is determined safe to do so, a therapist will guide you through passive exercises to improve range of motion in the shoulder. During passive exercises a therapist will support your arm and move it in different directions while you relax.
- Active Exercise: During this stage you will progress to doing active exercises without the help of a therapist. This will require you to actively use your own muscle to gradually build strength in the muscles.