What is a Rotator Cuff Tear?

Rotator cuff tear is a common cause of shoulder pain especially in elderly population. Rotator cuff is a group of muscles/tendon which gives movement to shoulder joint. With progression of age, small degeneration happens in muscle/tendon and minimum jerk on shoulder can result in tear of these muscles. The patient will have persistent pain in shoulder, there will be difficulty in raising arm above head, problem to lift weights. Pain is so severe that sleep might be disturbed. The pain is sometimes acute throbbing in nature and shoulder feels sore.

Dr. IPS Oberoi

Dr. IPS Oberoi

CHIEF SURGEON

Recurrent Shoulder Dislocation

How do I evaluate?

Shoulder is itself a specialty and needs expert to diagnose shoulder problems. I see these cases often and have seen patient suffering because of lack of proper diagnosis and treatment. I clinically evaluate shoulder pain patient to check for movements, muscle power and extent of tear. I evaluate if tendon tear is in one or more tendons. I see MRI as well to evaluate extent of tear and how much tear can be mobilised and repaired. Old tears often result in muscle wasting and weakness and MRI helps one in evaluating changes in muscle mass and quality before repair.

Outcomes Of Shoulder Arthroscopy

Shoulder Arthroscopy is the second most common orthopedic procedure after knee arthroscopy. Rotator Cuff is one of the most common types of shoulder function restoration procedures. It is a very high precision surgical procedure & needs many years of experience to be executed perfectly. Being an Arthroscopic procedure it comes in the category of a ‘Minimal Invasive Procedure’ & therefore offers less pain & speedy recovery.

The procedure is done in a semi seated position or lying on the side. With the help of tiny cameras inserted via precise holes, the problem is identified & sorted using the exact technique to give a personalised solution to your problem. Unlike Open Surgeries, it is a procedure which does not require extensive hospitalisation since it is done via an Arthroscope which helps the doctor to identify the issue precisely & treat it with perfection.

Once done, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation are required with weekly targets to restore the normal shoulder function. The results are very good at our centre.

Don't mistake it for frozen shoulder

Most often a rotator cuff tear is mistaken for frozen shoulder and patient might be doing various exercises but these exercises in presence of tear will be causing more harm than good. Sometimes pain would have aggravated by physiotherapy as tear might have increased.

Do not neglect a tear

Torn tendon needs repair as it is like a torn cloth which needs to be stitched back. The technique is precise and needs expert hands to do it. I have been doing shoulder arthroscopy surgery from last 20 years and have treated hundreds of cases of torn rotator cuff tendons, some of which were upto 2-3 years old.

How do shoulder arthroscopy help?

Shoulder arthroscopy is technique under general anaesthesia. I make small incisions in shoulder and put in small telescope in the joint. I evaluate the structures of shoulder and extent of tear. The tendon is mobilised and fixed with best quality implants. The procedure takes about one hour and hospital stay is 1-2 days. There are just 4-5 stitches on shoulder and are removed after 2 weeks. If tendon quality is good, healing is excellent and almost all functions are restored in 4-6 months.

Rehabilitation after repair

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair needs protection in the first month. Arm pouch is to be worn and gentle movements are allowed. No jerk or weight lifting must be done. From the second month range of motion exercises are allowed and attempts are made to regain movements. Third month involves theraband based exercises and 4th month exercises with light weights is encouraged. It takes up 6 months for shoulder to get well.

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    Recurrent Shoulder Dislocation

    Posterior cruciate ligament injury is common knee injury however it remains neglected as its softer missed on clinical examination. MRI is sensitive to evaluate this tear .I have been doing PCL reconstruction for last 20 years. Results are great but rehabilitation is slow and supervised . My technique of Arthroscopic surgery is superior as its anatomic and results in best outcome

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