A rotator cuff tear, which is a rip in the group of tendons and muscles that provide stability to the shoulder (rotator cuff), is one of the most common upper-extremity injuries affecting athletes and people whose physical activities or occupations involve repetitive overhead movement.
Stiffness in the shoulder, pain in the front of the joint (which may radiate down to the side of the arm and increases over time), difficulty moving the arm, and popping sensation during shoulder movement (crepitus) are some of the possible signs of a rotator cuff tear. If you are experiencing these symptoms, consider seeking specialized care from an orthopedic physician.
Below, you will learn about how an orthopedic doctor can help you bounce back from your rotator cuff injury.
Diagnosing and Treating Rotator Cuff Tears
To confirm a diagnosis, your orthopedic physician will do a complete examination of your shoulder, discuss the location and severity of your symptoms and order medical imaging (X-rays, MRI, or CT scan).
Once your orthopedic doctor confirms the diagnosis is a rotator cuff tear, they will then develop a treatment plan. The following interventions are often all you may need to recover from your injury:
- Rest
- Ice
- Oral pain medications/ cortisone shots
- Physical therapy
However, if you have a severe rotator cuff tear or if a lengthy course of conservative interventions has failed to provide adequate relief for your symptoms, your orthopedic doctor may recommend any of the following types of shoulder surgeries. Which one you specifically need depends on the extent of the damage to your shoulder.
- Open tendon repair– This is suitable for large or complex rotator cuff tears. The procedure involves your orthopedic physician working through a large incision to attach the damaged tendon back onto the bone.
- Mini-open repair- The initial part of the procedure is performed arthroscopically, which means your doctor creates a tiny incision through which they insert a camera (arthroscope) to visualize the inside of your shoulder and remove any bone spurs. This eliminates the need for detaching the deltoid muscle. Once the arthroscopic part of the procedure is done, your doctor proceeds with repairing your rotator cuff.
- All-arthroscopic tendon repair– This procedure involves your doctor reattaching the torn tendon to the bone using arthroscopy.
- Reverse shoulder arthroplasty- This is reserved for massive rotator cuff tears. In this procedure, your doctor installs the ball part of your prosthetic shoulder onto your shoulder blade and the socket part onto your arm bone (humerus) to restore the joint’s stability and normal function.
Trusted Orthopedic Doctors in Baltimore, Maryland
If you are in search of a reliable orthopedic physician in Maryland, visit us here at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder. We are staffed with board-certified orthopedic surgeons who are known for their expertise and dedication to delivering unmatched patient outcomes for the full range of upper-extremity injuries, helping athletes and anyone living an active lifestyle move freely again.
For a consultation with one of our orthopedic physicians, please call us at (410) 296-6232. You may also send an appointment request, and our scheduler will get back to you promptly to confirm your visit. We are proudly serving Lutherville, Pasadena, Clarksville, Eldersburg, Westminster, Baltimore, and Bel Air, Maryland.
