Rotator Cuff Tear
The rotator cuff is comprised of the 4 muscles and tendons that surround the top of the upper arm bone (humerus) and hold it in the shoulder joint. A tear may result suddenly from a single traumatic event or develop gradually. There is often a preceding history of impingement symptoms.
RISK FACTORS
- Degeneration due to ageing.
- Subacromial impingement (painful arc)
- Repetitive overhead motion, such as pitching or painting a ceiling.
- Heavy lifting.
- Excessive force, such as a fall.
What are the symptoms?
These are often very similar to subacromial impingement and initially, it may be difficult to distinguish between the two.
- Recurrent, constant pain, particularly with overhead activities.
- Pain at night that prevents sleeping on the affected side.
- Muscle weakness, especially when attempting to lift the arm above shoulder height.
- Catching and grating or cracking sounds when the arm is moved.Limited motion.
Rotator cuff tears may be partial or full thickness. Partial thickness tears do not completely divide the tendon and may respond well to non-operative problems (pain or weakness) despite conservative treatment. Surgery may also be used to treat partial thickness tears that do not respond to non-operative treatment.
How is the diagnosis made?
The doctor will listen to the description of the symptoms and examine the shoulder for pain and weakness. Several investigations may be required to confirm the diagnosis. These can include:
- X-Ray
- Ultrasound Scan
- MRI scan
- Arthrogram (Injection of dye into the joint followed by X-Ray)
What is the initial treatment?
In most cases, the initial treatment is non-surgical and involves several modalities:
- Rest. If the tear is due in part to overuse, resting the shoulder may help.
- Physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles, especially those which are not torn.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications will help to control pain.
- Strengthening and stretching exercises as part of a physiotherapy program are recommended.
- Corticosteroid injections can help reduce pain but cannot be repeated frequently because they can also weaken the tendon.
If the initial treatment does not work, what is next?
There are several surgical options to treat rotator cuff tears, depending on the size, depth and location of the tear. If other problems with the shoulder are discovered during the surgery, they can be corrected at the same time. If the tear is partial thickness or small, it may be possible to repair the defect using the arthroscope.
It takes some time to recover from shoulder surgery. Full function may not return for up to a year. A physiotherapy program of exercises to strengthen and restore motion will be started after surgery. Commitment to following the program outlined will make a difference in the ultimate results. Although every case is unique, surgery can relieve pain for most people and rehabilitation can restore a functional (but often not full) range of motion
