Rotator Cuff Tears
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the head of the humerus (upper arm bone). These muscles include the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis and teres minor. The rotator cuff stabilizes, moves and helps rotate the arm.
A tear in the rotator cuff is a common cause of shoulder pain in adults.
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain, weakness and loss of normal shoulder
What causes a rotator cuff tear?
There are two main causes:
- Sudden Injury
- Chronic Overuse
- -Wear and Tear
- -Most common
Non-surgical Treatment
- Ice, heat, anti-inflammatory or NSAIDs
- Injection therapy and physical therapy
Surgical Treatment: Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Removal of inflamed bursa and tissue
- Removal of bone spur, if present
- -Both allow for a free arch of motion
- -See Subacromial Decompression
- Torn rotator cuff tendon(s) are trimmed to a stable edge and reattached to the humerus
- Repair done with metallic or bio-absorbable anchors with attached suture