Definition:
Rotator cuff tear repair is a surgical procedure that is done to refurbish the irritation in or damage to the tendons around shoulder. The irritation or damage can be caused due to inflammation of the tendons or bursa, which is a calcium buildup in the tendons. Rotator cuff is a set of four tendons and their related muscles, which helps in keeping the upper arm bone firmly positioned or seated in the socket of the shoulder joint. All problems related to rotator cuff can result in severe pain and reduced mobility.
There are several ways to treat rotator cuff tear disorder. It is up to the doctor to decide over most suitable surgical procedure for you.
- Open Repair: In this type of surgery, your doctor might make a little longer incision of about 6 to 9 centimeters. With this, the rotator cuff tendons are clearly visible and surgery is carried out. As the incision is long, the healing process might take some time.
- Mini-open Repair: This surgical method involves use of both an arthroscope and an incision to access the torn tendon. With the use of arthroscope, your surgeon will be able to look clearly at the shoulder joint to clean damaged tissues or bone spurs. The incision made during the surgery is about 3 to 5 centimeters, which makes recover little faster than open repair method.
- Arthroscopic Repair: Such a repair method is done with small incisions that allow the doctor to watch the ongoing repair on a screen with the help of a small camera.
A patient is, first, put in a half sitting position with the head support. Usually, general anesthesia is given to the patient. The doctor carries out the related surgical process out of the three mentioned above. During the surgery, your doctor will remove loose or torn fragments of tendon, bursa or debris. Then, he will make space for rotator cuff tendon, so that it gets proper place to move. Finally, he sews the torn edges of supraspinatus tendon together.
Purpose:
The main aim of doing a rotator cuff tear repair surgery is to control you pain that is caused by stiffness in the shoulder. In some cases, this surgery is effective in regaining motion of your shoulder. You will also get top strengthen the muscles of your rotator cuff that are not torn, with the help of this procedure. This treatment is intended to cure problems related to your shoulder pain and all the related symptoms.
Precautions:
The rotator cuff tear repair is such a surgery that requires you to take certain precautions to get back to your normal routine. First of all, the patient is asked to control excessive physical activity with the operated arm. Secondly, you should not lift your treated arm above the head level. Lastly, try not to pick anything from the arm or hand of the operated side.
Pre and Post Care:
Before going for the surgery, your doctor will carry out certain physical tests to determine the level of problem. He might require you to take on shoulder X-ray to examine the position of humeral head due to large tears. Some of you might also be required to undergo an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) for studying soft tissues such as rotator cuff and full thickness tears. The doctor might check your neck also, taking that the pain may be arising from a pinched nerve.
After the surgery is completed and you are discharged, your doctor will ask you to keep certain after care points in mind. Firstly, you will be asked to start on light exercises for initializing the movement of your shoulder. The patients are encourages to roam around with taking out arm from the sling to straighten. You should not resume to your sports activities immediately after the surgery. In fact, you are supposed to wait until the shoulder is healed adequately.
Risk Factors:
Apart from common surgery complications such as blood loss, certain other risks also accompany rotator cuff tear repair.
- Severe pain or stiffness
- Damage to deltoid tendon or muscle
- Need for another surgery, if tear is not healed properly
- Nerve damage
- Infection of incision or shoulder joint
- Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a neurological disease where nervous system break down after a harrowing event
Hospital Stay:
You will be required to stay in the hospital for 2 days minimum and a maximum of around 4 or 5 days, depending on the kind of surgery carried out and the healing power of the patient.
|