Rotator Cuff Tear

The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles which hold the shoulder together and allow you to raise your arm up in the air. Rotator cuff injuries can be caused by repetitive overhead activity or heavy lifting. It can also be caused by a single incident such as a fall or accident. This can cause varying levels of injury, including rotator cuff tendinitis or a partial or complete tear.

A rotator cuff tear makes it difficult to lift your arm over your head. It typically causes a dull ache deep in the shoulder when at rest or sleeping.

Arthroscopic repair

If a rotator cuff tear is small or less complex, your orthopedic surgeon can use a scope to view and make necessary repairs to your shoulder. The use of a scope only requires an incision of about four to six centimeters which greatly reduces recovery time. If torn, the torn tendon can be stitched back together to heal and if it is beyond repair, your orthopedic surgeon can use a graft with the arthroscope to reconstruct your joint.

Open surgical repair

If the rotator cuff tear is larger or more complex, a traditional open surgical incision may be required. This allows your orthopedic surgeon to better evaluate, diagnose, and treat your injury. Recovery times for open surgery are longer than arthroscopic and usually require more time with bracing and physical therapy.