A rotator cuff repair is a procedure in which torn tendons and/or muscles surrounding the shoulder are surgically fixed.
It takes four to six months after surgery to fully heal and regain improved shoulder movement.
What Is Rotator Cuff Repair?
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Sometimes rotator cuff repair also involves other steps, such as removal ofbone spurs.
Rotator cuff repair is usually an outpatient procedure that doesn’t involve an overnight stay in the hospital.
The surgery can be done as anopen procedureor aminimally invasive arthroscopicone.
These issues aside, rotator cuff repair is simply not right for every such injury.
These situations generally require shoulder replacement surgery and not just a rotator cuff repair.
You might have acomplete shoulder replacement, apartial shoulder replacement, or areverse shoulder replacement.
Potential Risks
Rotator cuff surgery is usually safe and effective.
Still, there are someinherent risks of any kind of surgeryandanesthesiathat apply.
A rotator cuff tear can involve one or more muscles or tendons, the tear can bepartialor complete.
This pop in of damage may occur due to repetitive motion or sudden injury.
Even with repetitive damage, a rotator cuff tear can slowly worsen or may occur abruptly.
Symptoms of rotator cuff tear include:
Your healthcare provider will do a physical examination to evaluate these symptoms.
You may also have diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test.
Your tendons and/or muscles can be partially frayed, frail, or completely ripped.
You might also have degeneration of cartilage (arthritis), bone fractures, or bone spurs.
Treatment often starts withconservative therapyand may include rest, physical therapy, and oral or injected anti-inflammatory medication.
Small tears in your rotator cuff can heal.
This can include different views of your joint.
These tests screen for issues affecting surgery, anesthesia, and recovery.
Depending on your medical history, additional tests may also be performed.
What to Wear
you’re free to wear anything comfortable to your surgery appointment.
You will need to change into a hospital gown for your procedure.
hey be sure to bring a list of all of these to your pre-operative appointment.
You will have your temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen level checked.
Your skin will be cleansed to reduce the chances of an infection.
Pain will be controlled withgeneral anesthesia,regional nerve block anesthesia, or, more than likely, both.
Regional anesthesia for rotator cuff repair is generally placed for an interscalene brachial plexus block.
During the Surgery
Your surgery will begin after your anesthesia is started and verified to be working.
A small arthroscope will be placed if you are having an arthroscopic procedure.
You may need to have removal of bone spurs or damaged tissue.
After repair of your torn structures, your surgeon will mend any tissue that was cut for surgical access.
Your skin will be closed with sutures, and bandages will be placed on the surgical wound.
You will receive pain treatment as needed.
Your healthcare provider will likely examine you to ensure that things are going as planned.
Shorter recovery time is associated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
Throughout your healing and recovery period, you will see your healthcare provider for follow-up appointments.
They will examine your shoulder, assess your range of motion, and remove your sutures.
Healing
As you are healing, you may need to take pain medication.
Be sure to call your healthcare provider if you are experiencing severe or worsening pain.
Warning signs of complications include:
Call your healthcare provider’s office if you experience any of these issues.
Care for it according to the instructions that you were given upon discharge.
This can affect your ability to do things like drive, self-care, and work.
Supervised rehabilitationand physical therapywill be necessary.
It is important that you stay active to avoid stiffness of your arm.
That said, you must discontinue any activity or repetitive movements that could cause another injury.
While it is important to keep moving, you gotta ensure that you avoid future damage.
A recurrent tear can develop years after a repair.
It’s important to go into this surgery with a full understanding of what healing involves.
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