The rotator cuff consists largely of the muscles and tendons that hold the top of the upper arm bone securely – yet flexibly – in the shoulder socket. Your rotator cuff allows your arm to rotate so you can lift, reach and throw.
If you suddenly fall on an outstretched hand or if you perform repetitive tasks for an extended period of time, your rotator cuff may develop one or more tears. Your orthopedic doctor will probably recommend rest, pain relievers and physical therapy if the injury is relatively mild; however, if conservative treatments do not work, you may need surgery to repair or reattach your torn rotator cuff.
Let us talk about the most common types of surgery that are performed to fix a torn rotator cuff and where you can go across Maryland for an orthopedic evaluation and treatment of your shoulder pain.
Types of Torn Rotator Cuff Surgery
The three main types of surgeries for treating a torn rotator cuff are open repair, arthroscopic repair, and mini-open repair:
Open Rotator Cuff Repair
Open rotator cuff surgery is recommended if you have a large or complicated rotator cuff tear or if you need a reconstruction procedure like a tendon transfer. During this operation, your shoulder surgeon may also remove bone spurs, small shards of bone or tissue fragments in your shoulder.
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
If you have a small to medium-sized tear (i.e., 3 cm or smaller) arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is usually the recommended approach. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and is the least invasive of the three main types of rotator cuff repair surgeries.
A thin tube with fiber-optic camera functionality at the end, called an arthroscope, is inserted into your shoulder joint during arthroscopy. The arthroscope displays a real-time picture on a video screen in the surgery room that guides the surgeon during the procedure.
Mini-Open Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery
Mini-open rotator cuff repair is a combination of both arthroscopic and open surgery. First, your injury is evaluated through the arthroscope where your surgeon will trim away any bony spurs and remove loose cartilage. Next, the surgeon will make a larger incision over your shoulder and the doctor will repair the torn tendon and muscle fibers.
This procedure is considered less invasive than open rotator cuff repair surgery. It is performed when more than one rotator cuff tendon is torn.
Torn Rotator Cuff Surgery in the Greater Chesapeake Area, Maryland
If you have torn your rotator cuff or have chronic shoulder pain, visit a board-certified shoulder surgeon at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder. Our surgeons will evaluate your injury and determine the type of treatment that would be best for you.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in upper extremities, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (410) 296-6232 or by filling out our easy-to-use appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you get your shoulder back!
