Rotator Cuff Tear

What are common terms or synonyms for rotator cuff problems?

The rotator cuff and rotator cuff tears are sometimes refered to as rotator cuff tear, RTC tear, shoulder pain, torn shoulder muscles, degenerative rotator cuff, rotary cup tear

	What is the Rotator Cuff? The rotator cuff is a group of four mucsles which originate from the shoulder blade (scapula) and insert as a cuff of tissue around the ball (humeral head) at the top of the bone in the arm called the humerus. These four muscles rotate and elveate the arm thus the name "rotator cuff." The 4 muscles that make up the rotator cuff are the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the subscapularis and the teres minor.
	What are the symptoms of Rotator Cuff Tear? Tears in the rotator cuff can cause severe pain in the shoulder. This often initially occurs with overhead activity, but eventually may become severe, especially at night. Rotator cuff tears typically occur in people greater tha 40 years old. Other than pain people with rotator cuff tears frequently notice weakness in the shoulder and occasionally cracking or grinding sensations (crepitation) in the shoulder.

What happens when you have a Rotator Cuff Tear? Unrepaired Rotator Cuff Tears may progress and become irreparable. Long-standing tears may progress to muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration that compromises functional outcome after repair. Massive tears that are irreparable can also progress to a specific kind of arthritis known as rotator cuff arthropathy.
	What causes Rotator Cuff Tears? The cause of rotator cuff tears is unknown, but is likley multifactorial including intrinsic degeneration of the tendon, poor potential for tendon healing, vascular insufficiency, repetitive trauma, and extrinsic mechanical pressure from the surrounding coracoacromial arch. There likely is an inherited predisposition to RTC disease as well.
	What are the nonoperative treatment options for rotator cuff tears? Non-operative treatment options for rotator cuff tears include: activity modifications, non-steriodal antiinflammatory medications, icing, and physical therapy or a home based shoulder exercise program.
What are the surgical treatment options for Rotator Cuff Tears? Surgery for rotator cuff tears typically is done using shoulder arthroscopy (shoulder scope) with rotator cuff repair. Other options include: open rotator cuff repair. Massive tears may be better treated with superior capsular reconstruction, tendon transfers, or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. The surgery that is best for a specific patient varies depending on the type of rotator cuff tear, patient age, and medical co-morbidities. Surgical treatment options and the risks and benefits of each procedure should be discussed with their orthopaedic surgeon. Dr. Grutter can discuss treatment options and the risks and benefits of each.
What is rehab like for Rotator Cuff Tears? Every person and their particular circumstances are different. The rehab course follow surgery is determined for each patient individually. After surgery patients are typically placed in an abduction sling for 6 weeks. They may take it off to eat, shower, and to use the arm for desk work. Cold therapy devices (cryotherapy) are very helpful to decease pain, improve sleep and decrease need for pain medication. Patients should not smoke for 8 weeks prior to surgery and 8 weeks after surgery. Smoking greatly decreases the body's healing responses and patients who continue to smoke after surgery have poorer outcomes than those who quit smoking. Patients generally start physical therapy 2-3 days after surgery. At 4-6-weeks patients may discontinue the sling, and begin overhead stretching exercises. Small/medium tears may generally play golf at 6 months post-operatively. Large/massive tears may play golf at 1 year Small/medium tears may lift weights at 6 months. Large/massive tears may lift weights at 1 year Every person and their particular circumstances are different so the treatment for your shoulder may be different than those discussed above. Please read this information carefully. Write down any questions that you have about your injury and its treatment and discuss them with Dr. Grutter. Working together you and Dr. Grutter will determine the best treatment for you.	Rotator Cuff Physical Therapy Therapy proceeds through 4 phases. Phase 1: Passive Range of Motion (0 to 6 weeks). Phase 2: Active Range of Motion (6 to 12 weeks). Phase 3: Strengthening (10 to 16 weeks). Phase 4: Advanced Strengthening (16 to 22 weeks)
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