PATIENT EDUCATION. Why Let Shoulder Pain Hold You Back? Embrace life with a ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR

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Sophie Carr
6 years ago
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1 PATIENT EDUCATION Why Let Shoulder Pain Hold You Back? Embrace life with a ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR

What to Expect Open shoulder surgery often requires a short stay in the hospital, whereas arthroscopic repairs are typically performed on an outpatient basis, and do not require you to stay in the

2 What to Expect Open shoulder surgery often requires a short stay in the hospital, whereas arthroscopic repairs are typically performed on an outpatient basis, and do not require you to stay in the hospital overnight. Patients who have an arthroscopic repair are generally discharged a few hours after the procedure wearing a sling and asked to rest the shoulder for several days. Most people are able to return to normal everyday activities within the first two weeks after a successful rotator cuff repair procedure, and can typically return to work within a day or two. Total recovery time varies by patient, but most see complete recovery with improved range of motion and shoulder strength within 3 to 6 months post-surgery. Rehabilitation plays an important role in the rotator cuff recovery process. Your doctor will provide you with a physical therapy program to be done at home to help regain motion and strength of the injured shoulder. Proper exercise can also play a role in your recovery. However, sports activities can put excess pressure on the shoulder, so it is important to discuss with your doctor before returning to sports that may put strain on your repaired rotator cuff. Rotator cuff repair surgeries are covered by most health insurance plans, however, you should contact your insurance provider for the specific coverage for your plan.

It can also weaken your shoulder and make everyday activities, like combing your hair or reaching into a cupboard, more difficult.

3 Is shoulder pain keeping you from your active lifestyle? There is a solution for your shoulder pain. Get back to living the life you love. Rotator Cuff Tears A torn rotator cuff is a common cause of shoulder pain among adults, which can inhibit your ability to participate in things like athletics. It can also weaken your shoulder and make everyday activities, like combing your hair or reaching into a cupboard, more difficult. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that come together as tendons to hold the arm bone (humerus) into the shoulder socket (glenoid). Together, they form the rotator cuff and enable your arm to lift and rotate in different directions. When one or more of the rotator cuff tendons is torn, the tendon, or part of the tendon, no longer fully attaches to the bone. This can begin as minor fraying, turn into a partial tear, and can lead to a complete tendon tear. Anterior View (front of body) supraspinatus muscle subscapularis muscle Anterior Rotator Cuff Muscles Torn Rotator Cuff

Rotator cuff tears may be caused by an injury due to a fall or lifting a heavy object. However, many tears are the result of tendon degeneration over time, which occur with wear and age.

4 Rotator cuff tears may be caused by an injury due to a fall or lifting a heavy object. However, many tears are the result of tendon degeneration over time, which occur with wear and age. People who do overhead activities and repetitive lifting, like painters and carpenters, are at risk for rotator cuff tears. Athletes, especially baseball and tennis players, are also at greater risk. Treatment Options It is important to seek medical evaluation from a sports medicine doctor or orthopedic specialist if you have chronic shoulder pain. While rotator cuff tears commonly heal on their own, some tears can worsen over time. If your doctor determines you have a rotator cuff tear, there are several nonsurgical treatment options that may be considered. These methods can include medications, activity changes, steroid injections and physical therapy. If your shoulder pain and weakness do not improve with nonsurgical methods, your doctor may recommend surgery to reattach and repair the torn rotator cuff tendon. The type of surgery your doctor decides is best will depend on several factors, including the size of the tear and quality of the tendon tissue. There are generally three types of rotator cuff repair procedures traditional open repair, arthroscopic repair and mini-open repair.

ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR CAN HELP REDUCE OR ELIMINATE SHOULDER PAIN AND CAN ALLOW YOU TO REGAIN RANGE OF MOTION. IT MAY HELP YOU RETURN TO NORMAL DAILY ACTIVITIES.

Then the surgeon will generally remove any scar tissue or debris in the area and reattach the tendon using anchors and sutures to affix the tendon to the bone.

5 ROTATOR CUFF REPAIR CAN HELP REDUCE OR ELIMINATE SHOULDER PAIN AND CAN ALLOW YOU TO REGAIN RANGE OF MOTION. IT MAY HELP YOU RETURN TO NORMAL DAILY ACTIVITIES. Open Repair In traditional open repair, the surgeon makes an incision a few inches long in the shoulder, and moves aside the shoulder muscle (deltoid) to view the torn tendon. Then the surgeon will generally remove any scar tissue or debris in the area and reattach the tendon using anchors and sutures to affix the tendon to the bone. Arthroscopic Repair With an arthroscopic repair, a small video camera called an arthroscope is inserted into the shoulder through a tiny incision in the shoulder. The arthroscope displays magnified images of the shoulder joint on television monitors. The surgeon then inserts thin arthroscopic instruments, which are about the size of a pencil, through other small incisions and uses them to remove excess tissue and reattach the tendon. Mini-Open Repair Fixed Rotator Cuff In a mini-open repair, the surgeon uses arthroscopy to view the tear and treat any damage to the surrounding area within the joint. Because the surgeon does this part of the procedure arthroscopically, it avoids the need to detach the deltoid muscle. Once this is complete, the surgeon creates small incisions, about 3 to 5 cm long, and reattaches the tendon by viewing the rotator cuff area directly, rather than on the video monitor.

6 Making the Choice A rotator cuff repair surgery may be an appropriate treatment if you: have a rotator cuff tear as a result of an injury or accident experience ongoing pain or weakness that interferes with everyday life have a torn rotator cuff that does not respond to nonsurgical treatments As with any procedure, success will depend on your age, activity level and other factors. Your doctor will determine if you are a good candidate for rotator cuff repair surgery, and can help you understand what to expect from the procedure and your recovery. This pamphlet contains general medical information and does not replace the medical advice of your physician. If you have questions about your medical condition or exercises, ask your doctor or health care provider. For more information and to find a shoulder surgeon near you, please visit: Cherry Road Memphis, TN Nesbitt Avenue South Bloomington, MN and denote Trademarks and Registered Trademarks of Wright Medical Group N.V., or its affiliates Wright Medical Group N.V. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. CAW-4339 REV C ECN May-2016

PATIENT EDUCATION. Why Live with Chronic Shoulder Pain? Embrace life with SHOULDER REPLACEMENT

PATIENT EDUCATION. Why Live with Chronic Shoulder Pain? Embrace life with SHOULDER REPLACEMENT PATIENT EDUCATION Why Live with Chronic Shoulder Pain? Embrace life with SHOULDER REPLACEMENT Restore Your Quality of Life I couldn t reach cabinets in my kitchen. It was uncomfortable to drive a lot.