Torn Rotator Cuff Surgery

The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that keep the ball of the upper arm bone securely positioned in the shoulder socket and also facilitate the rotation of the arms. These tendons attach the muscles to the upper arm. When the tendons or muscles develop tears or get inflamed due to the overuse of muscles, one experiences shoulder pain. The range of motion of the arm also gets restricted due to a injury. Those who indulge in sports such as tennis, golf or swimming are at an increased risk of suffering from such injuries. People suffering from degenerative bone disorders are also prone to developing this condition. Shoulder tendonitis or bursitis could be responsible for causing such an injury. Though one can get relief from pain with the help of medications or physical therapy, doctors might recommend rotator cuff surgery if the symptoms are severe.

Surgery for a Torn Rotator Cuff

If a person is suffering from severe shoulder pain, doctors will conduct a physical as well as an X-ray examination to see if the rotator cuff is injured or not. Other imaging procedures such as MRI or arthrography might be performed. Surgery will be recommended only if the non invasive procedures are not helping. If the usage of medications, physical therapy or other methods are unable to fix the problem and the patient is facing difficulty in moving his/her arm overhead, doctors suggest one to undergo the surgical procedure. The cost for this surgery could range between $10,000 to $20,000. Another condition that might call for surgery is the development of bone spurs in the shoulder. Shoulder bone spurs are bony outgrowths that develop at the place where tendons meet the bone. These might put pressure on the surrounding bones and nerves and cause inflammation and pain. If the muscles are inflamed and other treatment options are not working, surgery will be performed to treat this condition. The type of surgery that will be performed will depend on the size of the tear. Doctors could insert an arthroscope to ascertain the extent of damage and carry out arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Since this method might not be helpful in repairing all types of tears, sometimes, small incisions are made in order to remove the damaged tissues or bone spurs. This is called miniature open surgical procedure. In case of big tears, doctors might resort to open surgery, whereby large incisions are made. Once the repairs are carried out, the incision is closed and dressing is applied.

Recovery

The recovery time for this surgery will vary depending on the extent of the damage and the procedure employed. One might take about 6-12 months to completely recover. Precautions must be taken during the rehabilitation period. One has to wear a sling for about 4-6 weeks. During this period, strenuous activities have to be avoided at all costs. The shoulder joint complex must not be stressed. The aim is to regain the strength of the muscles and restore the normal range of motion, but this must be done gradually.

Once the healing process starts, one will learn exercises in the physical therapy sessions. The aim is to help the patient develop a passive range of motion. The patient will need to perform exercises where the shoulder and arms are moved without straining the muscles. Once there is considerable improvement, the physiotherapist will suggest other exercises or stretches that will help in strengthening the muscles. The duration of recovery period might differ depending on how well your body responds to the treatment. Those who follow all the surgery aftercare instructions will recover faster.

If a person has suffered from a rotator cuff injury, doctors may recommend surgery only when the other treatment options have been exhausted. In case of minor tears, use of sling, along with rest, medication and therapy will definitely prove beneficial. Since tears in this part of the shoulder joint can cause severe pain and other distressing symptoms, if you ever end up with a shoulder injury, get yourself medically examined. As with all medical conditions, a timely treatment will ensure a speedy recovery.