Understanding Rotator Cuff Repair

If you need rotator cuff repair, your physician may elect to do surgery on you. Usually this will only happen after a period of time during which you will be asked to take part in some physical therapy to see if it is possible for the rotator cuff to heal without surgery.

If you must have surgery for rotator cuff repair, the surgeon will, though arthroscopic or conventional surgery, remove any bone chips, pieces of tendon, parts of the bursa sac or other types of debris which may be loose inside the rotator cuff…

The surgeon may also shave the arm bone or remove bone spurs from the shoulder blade to give the rotator cuff tendons more room to move. Finally, if you have torn any of the tendons in the rotator cuff, the surgeon will surgically reattach them, sometimes using anchors to reattach one that has been completely torn away from the bone.

If your surgeon elects to do conventional surgery, an incision 2-3 inches in length will be made to allow access to the rotator cuff in the shoulder. Arthroscopic surgery involves several small incisions and repair through the use of a camera and very small surgical tools. Arthroscopic surgery is very popular because the recovery time is generally very short compared to that of conventional surgery.

During the surgery, or immediately following the surgery, the surgeon may give the patient a nerve block to help with the pain from the operation and during the following rehabilitation period.

Discomfort following surgery is normal and can be minimized with an over-the-counter pain medication or other prescribed pain medications. The arm will need to be kept in a sling for a short period of time following the surgery to avoid any chances of re-injuring the shoulder, necessitating another rotator cuff repair. Physical therapy will also be necessary to ensure a proper restoration of both strength and mobility to the affected arm.

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