Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Conditions
What is the Rotator Cuff?
The Rotator Cuff is the group of four tendons in the shoulder joint providing support and enabling wider range of motion. Injury or “wear and tear” to the tendons may result in a tear, this condition is called a Rotator Cuff Tear. It is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain in middle aged adults and older individuals.
Rotator Cuff Tears are often associated with other shoulder problems such as:
- Biceps tendon pathology
- Subacromial Impingement
- AC joint Osteoarthiritis
What causes a Rotator Cuff Tear?
Rotator Cuff Tears can occur from a traumatic injury to your shoulder or from “wear and tear”. As we get older the quality of our tendons diminishes and become more predisposed to tearing. The Rotator Cuff tendons most commonly tear off their bone insertion.
The degenerative tears are often caused my “shoulder impingement” where the tendon is crushed by the overlying part of the shoulder blade, the acromion.
The traumatic tears result from forceful tearing of the tendon off the bone. For example from a fall.
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What are the symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Tear?
Like many conditions there is a spectrum of severity. The symptoms are similar.
Rotator Cuff Tears usually cause pain and weakness. This can vary from a complete inability to lift your arm to subtle weakness only noticed on testing. Similarly, the pain can vary from severe constant pain to pain only with particular movements and positions.
The pain is usually localised to the side or the front of the shoulder.
How do you Diagnose a Rotator Cuff Tear?
Diagnosis is usually base on your symptoms and a thorough examination. Rotator Cuff Tears are often associated with other shoulder problems such as:
- Biceps tendon pathology
- Subacromial Impingement
- AC joint Osteoarthritis
We would then usually obtain an MRI of your shoulder to confirm our diagnosis and provide more detail about the tear. Rotator Cuff Tears are best viewed on an MRI scan and provide exquisite detail including the location, size and chronicity of the Rotator Cuff Tear.
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Treatments
View the treatments for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
