Rotator Cuff Tear

The rotator cuff (also known as the 'rotor cuff') includes a group of four muscles and their tendons that stabilize them. This group forms a covering around the top of the upper arm bone (humerus), holds it in place in the shoulder joint and allows the arm to rotate.

A rotator cuff tear is usually caused either by a trauma injury, meaning a hard hit to the shoulder, or by over usage of these muscles and tendons over a prolonged period which includes repetitive overhead activities such as throwing (this usually affects athletes in sports like baseball, tennis, and weight lifting).

A rotator cuff injury can include any type of irritation or damage to the rotator cuff muscles or tendons. When there is a rotator cuff tear, it usually involves the tearing of the tendons, not the muscles. The most common part that gets torn is around the ligamentsSlightly stretchy connective tissues that connect bones in the body, forming a joint. attachments on to the humerus, while the most common tendon damaged is the 'Supraspinatus'. The tears range in size, anywhere for 1-3 centimeters.

Rotator Cuff Tear Video

Rotator Cuff Tear Symptoms

It is most common to suffer a rotator cuff tears when you are over the age of 40. Younger patients will suffer rotator cuff tears following major trauma or repetitive overhead work (usually active athletes).

As symptoms to a Rotator Cuff Tear may develop gradually with over usage, they may also develop right away following severe trauma. These symptoms can include:

• Pain and weakness when lifting or rotating your arm
• Pain when lowering the arm
• Crepitus or crackling noises when moving the shoulder
• A "dead arm" feeling
• Pain at night when laying on the sore shoulder

Rotator Cuff Tear Treatments

There are two options to repair a rotator cuff tear, nonsurgical and surgical method. The traditional nonsurgical method includes anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, placing the shoulder in a special sling, prolonged physiotherapy and a limited activity regime.

Surgery will be considered when traditional treatments are not working, the pain is too severe or the patient needs maximum shoulder strength as he or she is an active athlete. The specific type of surgery will depend on the size, shape, and location of the tear.

During surgery, the surgeon will remove the damaged tissue and other damaged particles in the shoulder. Once this is done, the rotator cuff can be sutured back together. Depending on the location of the tear, the surgeon may also need to use an anchor to reattach the tendon to the bone. The surgery can be either be done arthroscopicallySurgery done with the use of a tiny camera and small instruments that are inserted into the patient through small holes, thus preventing an incision., minimizing surgical trauma to the shoulder, a mini open repair (new techniques today allow surgeons to minimize incisions) and the traditional open surgical repair (usually done for large or complex tears).

The recovery period for surgery will include your arm being in a sling for 4-6 weeks, while which there will be some physiotherapy. After that, light exercises and conditioning can begin. Full recovery is expected within 4-6 months for most people, as full recovery for athletes can take as long as 6 months to a year, depending on the specific injury.

Rotator Cuff Tear Surgery Abroad

Once diagnosed with the need for rotator cuff surgery, a patient does not want to wait with this kind of injury. TicketMed representatives are standing by and will be happy to assist you in receiving all the information you will need and also with scheduling the rotator cuff tear surgery at the top orthopedic surgeons around the globe. Contact us or simply ask for a quote.