This is the first of a series of discussions that will focus on the cause and treatment of rotator cuff problems. POA’s Dr. Craig T. Arntz specializes in shoulder problems and has performed over 4,000 rotator cuff repair procedures:
Rotator cuff tendon problems are very common and represent the most frequent source of shoulder pain and functional disability. Historical anatomic studies and more modern imaging techniques, such as MRI and ultrasound, have demonstrated the presence of significant rotator cuff tears in as many as 30% of individuals 60 years of age or more.
The rotator “cuff” is made up of the tendons of four separate muscles that join together to surround and attach to the upper humerus. The muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff give us the ability to raise and rotate our arm. The rotator cuff also provides the critical function of holding the “ball” of the shoulder within the “socket”.
The tendons of the rotator cuff may tear as the result of a significant injury, such as a fall or extreme lifting. However the great majority of rotator cuff tendon tears are degenerative – the result of repeated strain and wear over a lifetime of use.
Patients with rotator cuff tears typically experience chronic shoulder and arm pain as well as loss of strength, movement, and the ability to sleep comfortably. Although, rotator cuff tear symptoms may respond to rest, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy, tears of the rotator cuff tendons do not heal and tend to get larger over time leading to increasing pain, secondary arthritis, and the loss of shoulder function.
In those patients whose symptoms fail to respond to conservative measures, surgical repair may be required. Rotator cuff repair surgery is most often performed as an outpatient with the aid of the arthroscope or through a very limited 1.5 – 2.0 inch “mini open” incision.
Rotator cuff tear repair surgery typically offers reliable pain relief and restoration of shoulder function. Rotator cuff repair surgery for a tendon tear from a sudden injury is most effective and successful it is performed within a few weeks of the injury. Rotator cuff surgery to repair a chronically torn tendon with frayed or thinned tendon tissue is less likely to be successful than surgery to repair an injury to a healthy tendon.
If you feel you have a rotator cuff tear, or you are experiencing shoulder pain or arthritis that prohibits you from enjoying a comfortable quality of life, call Proliance Orthopedic Associates shoulder specialists at (425) 656-5060.