The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles in the shoulder that help keep the shoulder joint in place. They also help to lift and rotate the arms. But, sometimes an injury or overtime wear and tear causes a tear in the rotator cuff that manifests severe shoulder pain. Most of the tears can be fixed by prescribing medicines and physical therapy. Only when the pain is critical, and medication and other noninvasive techniques are ineffective in correcting the tear surgery is recommended. Arthroscopic surgery is the most preferred type of procedure that is used to repair the torn rotator cuff.
CAUSES OF ROTATOR CUFF TEAR
Below are a few conditions that might cause a rotator cuff tear
TENDINITIS – This condition is mainly seen in tennis players and painters who overuse their shoulders that cause the inflammation in the joint.
BURSITIS – It is caused by the inflammation of the bursa. These are the fluid-filled sacs present in between the rotator cuff and the underlying bone.
ACUTE INJURY OR OVERUSE – Injuries that are caused by lifting heavy objects, improper position of shoulders, or strain from a fall or injury can lead to tearing in the rotator cuff.
SYMPTOMS
Not all rotator cuff injuries cause pain. Mostly degenerative injuries start to show signs only after months of injury. Common symptoms include
- Difficulty achieving full range of shoulder motion
- Progressive weakness of the shoulder
- Trouble sleeping during the night
- Trouble reaching behind the back
- Avoiding certain activities because of the pain
DIAGNOSIS
Doctors can identify the tear either by medical history, physical examination, or by imaging scans. X-rays help to identify any bone spurs while MRI is used to examine the soft tissues like muscles and tendons.
TREATMENT
Treatments include resting the affected arm to surgery based on the symptoms. Surgery is recommended only when the shoulder pain hasn’t improved after 6-12 months, Weakening of the shoulder, tear in the rotator cuff tendon, rely on the shoulder for your job or active in sports.
Arthroscopic surgery is the most common procedure that is performed to repair the torn rotator cuff and reattach the tendon to the head of the humerus. It is a daycare procedure performed under anesthesia that makes use of arthroscope inserted into the small incisions made on the skin. The arthroscope displays the torn cuff images on the screen through which the surgeon will fix the problem.
Recovery from arthroscopic surgery is faster when compared with open tendon surgery. However, complete recovery will take time and depends on how patients follow their physiotherapy exercises.
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