Rotator Cuff Repair is the surgical repair of damaged soft tissues of the shoulder’s joints. This surgery treats injures to the soft tissue- ligaments, tendons, muscles, as well as membranes lining the joints, that make up the Rotator Cuff.

This surgery may be done either as an open procedure or through a small surgical interjoint telescope-arthroscope. In Arthroscopic Procedure, an individual’s shoulders, back and chest are shaved if needed and the patient is given general anesthesia; the skin over the shoulder is washed with soap and antiseptic.

After, an arthroscope is inserted through a small incision. Bleeding is controlled with an electrocautery device or the ligation of a vessel, if necessary.  If leverage and access are sufficient through the arthroscope, the surgeon may irrigate the joint to remove tissue fragments, shave roughened bones and tendons, reattach tendons to muscles and bones, suture and staple torn tissues and generally, do everything needed to repair joint.

When the surgery is finished, the wound, arthroscopic or open is closed with sutures and covered by a bandage. An individual is normally given an arm sling that holds the joint in an anatomically correct position and allows only limited movement. In some cases, a shoulder cast may be needed.

Appropriate physical therapy is necessary as soon as the surgeon orders it. Rotator cuff repair procedure should be performed only by a board-certified orthopedic surgeon.

The main complication of the surgery is a failure of the procedure to produce a satisfactory result studies that would lead to a complete recovery of shoulder function. Another complication includes postsurgery arthritis and damage to the spinal accessory nerve. Death may occur from reaction to the anesthetic medicine, mashine’s failure, or anesthetist’s error.

This entry was filed under Surgery.

Tags: arthroscope, muscles and bones, orthopedic surgeon, physical therapy, rotator cuff repair, shoulder function, spinal accessory nerve