How do you surgically repair a rotator cuff tear? Part 1
Rotator cuff repair
This is part 1 of our discussion on rotator cuff repairs.
Previous posts on rotator cuff include:
Rotator cuff surgery is a very generic term that encompasses many different procedures. They can be as minimal as a debridement of the bursa and the rotator cuff with possible removal of any bone spurs called a “smooth and move” procedure. This procedure is normally reserved for partial rotator cuff tears or rotator cuff tears that are old or have poor tissue quality. If you have a complete tear of your rotator cuff with good tissue quality and desire a return to an active lifestyle, you may be candidate for a rotator cuff repair.
A rotator cuff repair is most commonly done by stitching the tendon back to its original site on the humerus. In active patients who have a old, complete tear with poor tissue quality, the options are more limited, unfortunately. Luckily, a new procedure called the superior capsular reconstruction may help restore some shoulder function that would otherwise be impossible.