Kennedy Center Surgeons Continually Lead the Way in Less Invasive Procedures
What Exactly is the Rotator Cuff?
The shoulder is a remarkably complex and efficient human mechanism. The shoulder joint is comprised mainly of muscles, tendons and bones, all working smoothly together to give this joint effortless motion throughout life.
The rotator cuff refers to the group of muscles and tendons from the shoulder blade that connects to the ball of the shoulder joint and adds stability to it. Together they form a “cuff” around the humeral head or ball that allows your arm to lift overhead and rotate. It functions beautifully year after year, but can tear with or without an injury.
Causes of Rotator Cuff Tears
- Most rotator cuffs tears are the result of muscles and tendons simply wearing out through overuse and age. Patients explain that they don’t remember any one injury or event that caused the shoulder pain, but experience a gradual onset of pain. Pain increases when reaching overhead, reaching away from the body, reaching behind your back or sleeping on your shoulder.
- Repetitive overhead actions are another source of rotator cuff tears. People whose work requires constant overhead work like painters and carpenters, or athletes who participate in activities with repetitive shoulder movements like baseball, tennis, weight lifting and swimming.
- A rotator cuff tear can occur with excessive force like when you reach out to break a fall or fall on the shoulder; lift too much weight or resist too much force with your shoulder. Less commonly, injuries can occur when you pull too much weight.
Most rotator cuff injuries can be treated non-surgically with rest, ice, heat, low-resistance exercise and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen.
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
The surgeons at the Kennedy Center lead the way in using arthroscopic surgery for rotator cuff tears. We use the latest arthroscopic techniques to limit muscle injury and post-operative pain.
Today, many surgeons outside the Kennedy Center still perform “open” surgery on rotator cuffs. Surgeons make a fairly large incision on the outside of the shoulder and cut through the muscle to expose the rotator cuff.
Benefits of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
The benefits of arthroscopic surgery include less post-operative pain and use of narcotic drugs, and an earlier return to normal activities like driving and working.