Rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that provide stability to the shoulder. Following a rotator cuff injury, the patient will usually need an exercise condition program to restore regular shoulder movement and normal activities. If the program is well-structured, the patient may even able to resume sports and other strenuous activities.
The shoulder condition and rotator cuff treatment exercise condition program should ideally be performed under the professional guidance of a surgeon and the supervision of a physical therapist.
Outstanding and state of the art board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler provide treatment for rotator cuff injuries to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada and other cities and communities in this part of the Southwest.
Surgical Repair
To repair a damaged or torn rotator cuff, the surgeon will typically reattach the tendon to the head of the humerus, which is the upper arm bone. In case of a partial tear, only debridement procedure may suffice, which involves smoothing or trimming. If the thickest part of the tendon has sustained a full tear, the surgeon will repair it by suturing the two sides back together.
Rotator cuff surgeries have become less invasive now due to the introduction of innovative techniques. Open surgery, arthroscopic surgery, and mini-open surgery are the commonly used techniques for rotator cuff repair. Similar pain relief and strength improvement may be experienced by patients who are good candidates for any of these surgical techniques.
Open Surgery
For large or complicated tears, or where additional reconstruction such as a tendon transfer is essential, an open surgery may be more appropriate. This will involve a long incision over the shoulder and the shoulder muscle may be detached to gain greater access to the torn tendon. The bone spurs from the underside of the acromion will be removed through the incision.
Arthroscopic Surgery
This is a relatively less invasive surgical technique, which makes it the preferred choice if the rotator cuff injury is somewhat minor. The surgeon will create a small incision to introduce a tiny camera called an arthroscope into the shoulder joint. The underlying structure can be viewed on a screen, and the surgeon will use it as a guide to perform precise surgical repair with miniature tools.
Arthroscopic surgical repair of the torn rotator cuff can be performed as an outpatient procedure. The patient will go through reduced discomfort, less risk and faster recovery. Judicious and tremendous board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Thomas and Dr. Bigler receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada and other neighborhoods and suburbs in this area of the state.
Mini-Open Surgery
A mini open repair surgery may be performed in some cases using cutting edge technology and surgical instruments. The surgeon will create an incision of three to five centimeters, which will be smaller than in the case of traditional open surgery. Bone spurs will be removed arthroscopically, which will avoid the need to detach the deltoid muscle.
Once the arthroscopy is done, the surgeon will repair the rotator cuff using the mini open incision. For tendon repair, the surgeon will view the inner structure of the shoulder directly, and not through the camera.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about the Knee and Shoulder Institute procedures & treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada board certified surgeons Steven C. Thomas, MD and Gregory T. Bigler, MD. call (702) 933-9393; Physical Therapy (702) 933-9393.