Rotator Cuff Repairs Shoulder
Repairing Rotator Cuff Tears with Arthroscopy
Pain, weakness, clicking and popping in the shoulder area are some of the common symptoms of rotator cuff tears. These types of tears of can occur in individuals of all ages.
Fig. 1 – Repairing Rotator Cuff Tears
A single, heavy lifting event is the usual cause for a younger patient (under 40years), while older patients (greater than 60), may injure the rotator cuff with minimal force. As we get older, the rotator cuff may weaken and fray secondary to bone spurs that form within the shoulder (Figure 1).
Once the rotator cuff tear occurs, the muscle pulls on the tendon, retracting it away from its insertion and propagating the tear through the remaining tendon (Figure 2).
Fig. 2 Rotator Cuff Repair
Minimally invasive techniques are to repair the rotator cuff and remove bone spurs. For rotator cuff tears, patients can have a shoulder arthroscopy. In this procedure, a fiberoptic camera goes into the shoulder joint through a small puncture (portal).
Through a second working portal, the surgeon uses instruments to place anchors into the bone. Sutures arising from the anchors are weaved through the rotator cuff tendon and special knots are tied that cinch the tendon back to its insertion. Furthermore, bone spurs within the shoulder are removed with a small bur (Figure 3).
Fig. 3
This advanced technique has proven to be an extremely effective option for repairing rotator cuff tears while also minimizing recovery time for patients.
Related Articles: Rotator Cuff Exercises
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