Everything You Need to Know About Rotator Cuff Surgery


Are you considering rotator cuff surgery but feeling unsure about the risks and benefits? Surgeon Researcher can help. Our detailed article provides an in-depth overview of the surgery, including important information about the recovery process. With Surgeon Researcher, you'll have all the knowledge you need to make an informed decision about your healthcare. Don't wait, read our article today and take the first step towards a healthier you.

How to find the most skilled rotator cuff surgeon?


🔳Overview

Understand What Rotator Cuff Surgery Is


A rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that attach the shoulder blade to the upper arm bone and help stabilize and move the shoulder joint.


When the rotator cuff in the shoulder suffers tears or damage, a surgical treatment called rotator cuff repair may be necessary. There are also causes of rotator cuff injury- which may result in shoulder arthroplasty.


What are the Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Tears?


Depending on the degree of the tear, rotator cuff injuries can cause a wide range of symptoms.


  • Shoulder pain that is exacerbated by reaching or raising.
  • Fatigue in the arm makes even simple tasks challenging.
  • You feel like your shoulder is popping or clicking.
  • Shoulder mobility is restricted.
  • Pain in the shoulder makes it difficult to sleep on that side.

🔳Procedure: Before, During, and After


Before the Surgery

There are critical preparations that must be in your pre-operative instructions prior to rotator cuff surgery may be performed successfully. Examples of such things could be:


  • Medical evaluation: To find out if you are fit and active enough for surgery, you will need to get a full medical checkup. This could involve blood tests, imaging tests, or other ways to figure out what's wrong.
  • Pre-operative physical therapy: Physical therapy before surgery can help you get stronger and keep improving your range of motion, which can help you get better faster.
  • Medications: Before surgery, your surgeon may tell you to quit taking certain medicines, like those that thin your blood.
  • Fasting: Before the surgery, you will probably be told not to eat or drink anything for a few hours.
  • Planning for aftercare: You must make plans for your care after surgery, such as how you will get back to your home and who will aid you with your everyday chores while you are healing.
  • Preparing your home: You might need to make changes to your residence to help you get better, like putting grab rails in the shower room or rearranging the decor to facilitate your ability to move around.
  • Mental preparation: Rotator cuff surgery may be a big deal, so it's crucial to get your mind ready for the surgery and the time it takes to heal. This could mean talking to your surgeon or a professional in mental health about any worries you have.

 


During the Surgery:


The damaged rotator cuff tendon is accessed through an incision made in the shoulder during rotator cuff surgery. The extent and position of the tear will determine the kind of surgery that is performed.


Surgery options for repairing rotator cuff damage include tendon transfers and partial cuff repairs.

Partial Rotator Cuff Repair

Only the damaged segment of the rotator cuff tendon is stitched back together in a partial rotator cuff repair. For mild to moderate injuries, surgeons can utilize anchors and sutures to restore the tendon to the bone. Arthroscopic procedures, which entail creating small incisions in the skin and using a tiny camera to direct the surgical instruments, are commonly used for the procedure.

Tendon Transfer Surgery

If your rotator cuff tendon is ripped or otherwise injured, you may be a candidate for tendon transfer surgery. The tendon used in a tendon transfer may be from a neighboring muscle on the patient's body or from a donor. The surgeon will cut the new tendon free and suture it or attach it to the shoulder bone. For rotator cuff rips that are too extensive for partial repair, this method is sometimes the only option.

Access

Your surgeon must gain access to the portion of your rotator cuff that is torn.

The most common tear site is where the rotator cuff tendon attaches to the bone of your humeral head.



A rotator cuff tear typically looks something like this: (see photo on the side)

Surgeons have 2 options to gain access:


  1. Arthroscopically using a small video camera.
  2. Open. They create an incision through your skin, fat, and muscles so they can see the rotator cuff tear with their eyes.

       
This is your surgeon’s view of your shoulder during an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: (see photo below)

Rotator cuff repair

Tear and Repair Diagnosis


You most likely had an MRI before this surgery. MRI imaging is effective at telling your surgeon if you have a rotator cuff tear. However, MRIs do not provide granular details of the nature and ‘shape’ of your rotator cuff tear. This information can only be obtained by visualizing the tear with an arthroscopic camera.


Once your surgeon has visualized your tear arthroscopically, they will manipulate your rotator cuff to determine the severity, size, and shape of your tear. This manipulation is performed by both moving your arm and using grasping surgical tools to move your tear in different directions.


This manipulation provides your surgeon with the information they need to decide on the best rotator cuff repair technique for your tear:


  • The pattern of your tear
  • Your current and pre-tear anatomy
  • The mobility of your rotator cuff

Good rotator cuff surgeons will attempt to repair your rotator cuff in a way that mimics your pre-tear anatomy. The more repair techniques they have in their ‘tool belt’ the more likely they will succeed.


Rotator Cuff Repair Techniques:

There are 3 main rotator cuff repair techniques. The most skilled rotator cuff surgeons are proficient at each technique:

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Single Row Repair – this is most effective for small rotator cuff tears. Your surgeon will insert a screw in the bone of your humeral head. This screw will have 2 or 3 sutures attached to it. Your surgeon will pass those sutures through healthy rotator cuff tissue and then tie a knot to bring the torn portion of the rotator cuff back down to the bone. The result looks like this:

Rotator Cuff Single row repair

Double Row Repair – this repair is more appropriate for larger rotator cuff tears. This technique starts identically with a single-row repair. Your surgeon will insert a screw with a suture attached to it in the bone of your humeral head and pass the sutures through healthy rotator cuff tissue. Once the sutures are passed through your tissue the surgeon will insert the sutures into another set of screws that are designed to accept sutures; these screws are referred to as ‘knotless screws’. The knotless screws are then inserted into your bone just outside of where your rotator cuff should attach. The sutures are tightened to an appropriate tension and locked into the knotless screw. The result looks like this

Rotator cuff - double row repair image

Side to Side Repair – this technique is utilized on massive rotator cuff tears before a single or double-row repair. The best rotator cuff surgeons will use this technique when a rotator cuff has a large tear that is shaped like a U. Multiple sutures are passed through one side of the U, then the other side of the U, and then tied to close the U.


Once a side-by-side repair is used to reduce the size of the U-shaped tear a single or double-row repair can be used to complete the rotator cuff repair. The result will look like this:

Rotator cuff - Side to side repair image


After the Surgery:

If you do everything your surgeon tells you to do after rotator cuff surgery, you'll have a better chance of getting better. You might want to include the following general suggestions in your post-operative care after surgery: 


  • Pain management: You will probably be given painkillers to help you deal with pain for a few days following your operation. It is crucial that you utilize these medicines as directed and let your surgeon know if you have any adverse reactions or concerns.
  • Immobilization: After surgery, your rotator cuff may need to heal while your arm is in a brace. To safeguard the surgical site, it is essential that you use the shoulder strap as directed.
  • Physical therapy: This is an important part of getting better after surgery on the rotator cuff. Your surgeon will probably suggest a set of workouts and stretches to improve your shoulder's range of motion and strength. It's important to go to all your physical therapy meetings and do your home exercises the way your therapist tells you to.
  • Rest and activity restrictions: After surgery, you must avoid doing things like lifting heavy things or reaching above your head for a while, so you don't hurt the rotator cuff again. Your surgeon will tell you exactly what activities you should avoid and for how long.
  • Follow-up appointments: You will need to attend follow-up appointments with your doctor to monitor your progress and ensure that the rotator cuff is healing properly.
  • Patience: Hence, it is crucial to be calm and allow the body the necessary time to heal. A few months may pass prior to being able to return to your regular activities, but the damage will heal on its own.


🔳Risks and Benefits


Benefits

  • One of the main advantages of rotator cuff surgery is the reduction of pain. Patients can feel much less discomfort and have better shoulder function when tendon tears are repaired.
  • Shoulder endurance, range of movement, and overall function can all benefit from rotator cuff surgery.
  • Injury to the rotator cuff that might otherwise occur if the tear were left untreated can sometimes be avoided with surgery.

 

Risks

  • Infection: Infection is always a possibility following surgery. Antibiotics will be given to patients prior to, during, and following surgery to reduce the likelihood of infection.
  • Another potential complication of surgery is bleeding. In extreme cases, this may necessitate a transfusion.
  • Numbness, weakness, or a lack of mobility in the arm or hand can be the result of nerve injury that occurs after surgery.
  • Shoulder stiffness is a common side effect of shoulder surgery. Although physical treatment can help, it may take some time before the affected individual has full mobility again.
  • The repaired tendon may re-tear in rare instances. Patients who resume strenuous activity shortly after surgery are more likely to experience this.


🔳Recovery


Recovery Timeline


The length of time it takes to recover from rotator cuff surgery varies from patient to patient, from damage to injury, and from surgery to operation. After surgery, patients often recover by using a sling and engaging in physical therapy to rebuild shoulder strength and mobility.


Timeline for typical rotator cuff surgery recuperation:


The first week following surgery is dedicated to pain and swelling management. A sling may be used to immobilize and support the affected arm. Shoulder stiffness can be avoided with the use of physical therapy exercises.


The second to sixth weeks are dedicated to regaining shoulder mobility. As the shoulder improves, the sling may no longer be necessary, but the physical therapy activities will increase in difficulty.


Physical treatment for the shoulder may be increased from weeks 6-12 to assist regain of complete motion as well as power in the afflicted arm.


After three to six months, most patients can return to their regular routines, though they may still benefit from continuing physical therapy to guarantee a full recovery.


If patients want the greatest potential results from surgery, they need to pay close attention to their post-op instructions and show up to all their physical therapy sessions.

Order your Surgeon Research

  • Where rotator cuff located?

    A group of muscles and tendons around your shoulder joint make up the rotator cuff. It attaches the upper arm bone (the humerus) to the shoulder blade. This keeps your arm in place and lets it freely move in many directions.

  • How is rotator cuff surgery performed?

    Most of the time, rotator cuff surgery is done arthroscopically, which means that the orthopedic surgeon will start making a few small cuts in the area. A video camera linked to a screen is put in through these cuts, so the surgeon is able to observe what he or she is doing. Depending on how bad your tear is, the orthopedic surgeon might have to cut away torn parts and/or sew new tissue into the damaged areas. This is performed with surgical instruments.

  • What happens after rotator cuff surgery?

    After rotator cuff surgery, it's important to follow a full care strategy that involves physical therapy and medications. Physical therapy helps the area get its strength back, and painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs can help minimize swelling and pain. It's important to carefully obey all your surgeon's instructions, as this will allow you to recover quickly and well.

  • How much does rotator cuff surgery cost?

    The price of rotator cuff surgery depends on the type of surgery being done and whether the patient has health insurance. The cost may vary somewhere between $5,000 and $15,000 on average.


What do we look for in a surgeon that performs Rotator Cuff Surgery?


  1. Our Surgical Sources must be comfortable sending their family members to the surgeon.
  2. The surgeon must specialize in shoulder surgery and be a high-volume surgeon.
  3. The surgeon must be board-certified and have a good track record of successful surgeries.
  4. The surgeon must be performing rotator cuff repairs weekly.
  5. The surgeon must use the latest technology and equipment for performing rotator cuff repairs.
  6. The surgeon must have good hand-eye coordination.


Surgeon Researcher - Final Words


The best predictor of successful surgery is the skill level of your surgeon. Surgeons are NOT created equal.


Studies, and our experience, show that patients who are operated on by the most skilled surgeons have lower rates of revision surgery, complications, infection, pain, opioid use, and death. The most skilled surgeons achieve the best surgical outcomes - providing you with the quickest recovery and best quality of life.


Finding the most skilled surgeon can be an impossible task if you do not work in the medical industry. Surgeon Researcher is here to change that.


The only sources that know how skilled a surgeon really is are in the operating room with surgeons on a consistent basis.


We talk to these sources.


We are the only service dedicated to finding patients like you the most qualified surgeons in the country by going straight to the source.  Our goal is to equip you with all the information you need to make an informed choice about your health care.


Here at Surgeon Researcher, we prioritize the needs of our customers. We are advocates for the patients, not surgeons.


Don't risk your future quality of life. Get in touch with Surgeon Researcher so we can ensure a qualified surgeon is performing your rotator cuff repair. You can rely on us to be your advocate in the fight for better surgical outcomes.


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