Patients with rotator cuff tears complain of weakness and the inability to place the arm in certain positions; they usually have very severe pain at night. Patients have difficulty with hair care, putting on a bra or belt, and weakness when trying to lift the arm away from the side. Sometimes these symptoms are brought on by severe inflammation due to tendinosis, so a thorough physical examination by a Sports Medicine trained specialist is usually necessary to determine whether a tear is present. Occasionally an MRI is necessary to confirm the presence of a tear.
Can tendinosis or partial tears progress to full tears of the rotator cuff?
Great question, and unfortunately for nearly 50 percent of patients, the answer is yes. Within 5 years you have a 50 percent chance of the tear progressing to a full thickness tear -- that is why followup is necessary. Repeat MRI or ultrasound should be used in certain situations to visually examine the cuff and be sure the tear has not progressed
What is an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair?
The arthroscope is a fiber optic camera inserted into the shoulder through a small stab wound. This serves as our eyes within the joint. With the advent of a multitude of arthroscopic instruments, we can now repair your rotator cuff, labral tear, or ligament tear using this approach. This eliminates the need for an open incision or an open approach in the majority of cases.
The advantages are numerous. We can actually see the tear better with an arthroscopic approach. We can treat any other pathology present at the same time.
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