Rotator Cuff Tear Repair
When one or more of the tendons and ligaments that make up the rotator cuff – which provides stability and support to the shoulder – is injured or torn, it can cause pain and limited movement and mobility of the arm. A tendon can suffer either a partial tear or full tear, and each injury requires specific treatment depending on severity. In addition to surgery, some of the most common methods of rotator cuff tear repair include corticosteroid injections, rest, and physical therapy.
Rotator Cuff Tear Repair
A skilled orthopedic surgeon will often opt for a procedure known as arthroscopic surgery to restore the damaged tendon. Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that can be used to diagnose as well as repair damaged ligaments and tendons of the shoulder joint. This surgery allows orthopedic surgeons to devise the best course of action for each particular injury. Arthroscopic surgery can also decrease the time it takes for patients to heal, and is generally less painful and involves less blood loss in patients than traditional open surgical procedures. Arthroscopic surgery is most commonly used to repair torn cartilage, to reconstruct damaged ligaments and tendons, and to trim damaged tissue that can lead to pain and swelling.
The instrument used in arthroscopic surgery is a small fiber optic unit called an arthroscope, which has a light and small camera attached to the end of the device. While the patient is under general anesthesia, an orthopedic surgeon will make several small incisions around the shoulder joint. The arthroscope then projects these images of the shoulder joint to a video screen in the operating room, which the surgeon uses as a map to navigate the injury and perform the necessary repairs.
