Rotator Cuff Tears

The shoulder’s rotator cuff could tear under enough strain, damaging the tendons and muscles that give you arm movement. If you suffer a rotator cuff tear, visit Karl Siebuhr, MD, and Jonathan Kletter, PA-C, at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida. They excel at diagnosing and treating rotator cuff injuries and restoring a patient’s range of motion. Call the office to request a rotator cuff tear assessment or complete the online booking form today.

What are rotator cuff tears?

The rotator cuff is a system of muscles and tendons in your shoulder. It stabilizes the joint and enables you to rotate your arm. The tendons and/or muscles can tear under enough force, causing injuries that range from mild to severe.

Rotator cuff tear pain typically affects the top front part of your shoulder. You may also have pain on the joint’s side, and notice your pain worsens with activities requiring overhead reach. Without treatment, rotator cuff tears weaken your muscles and stop you from completing daily tasks like brushing your hair and preparing a meal.

What causes rotator cuff tears?

The rotator cuff can weaken with age, increasing your risk of a rotator cuff tear. Repeatedly using your arms above your head or making the same movements for prolonged periods can accelerate age-related weakening and lead to tearing, especially in adults over 40.

If your job requires frequent overhead reaching, for example, stocking shelves, painting, and carpentry, you may develop tendinitis — inflammation in the tendons caused by multiple tiny injuries. Tendinitis can lead to rotator cuff tendon tears.

Sports and other activities where you repeatedly reach overhead, such as tennis, swimming, and baseball, can lead to weakened and torn rotator cuffs. Trauma from falling could also cause a tear.

How are rotator cuff tears treated?

Conservative treatments can heal many mild-to-moderate rotator cuff tears. These typically include activity modification (avoiding movements that aggravate your symptoms), anti-inflammatory pain medication, and physical therapy. Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida also offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to promote tissue repair.

If these treatments aren’t relieving your symptoms, cortisone injections can help. They have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that reduce pain and inflammation long-term.

Sometimes, conservative treatments are unsuccessful, or you might have a severe rotator cuff tear that’s unlikely to heal on its own. If so, you might benefit from surgery. A fractional (partial) rotator cuff tear needs debriding, where your surgeon trims and smooths the torn tissues. A full-thickness tendon tear might require surgical reattachment to the bone.

Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida specializes in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The arthroscope (shoulder scope) is a flexible, pencil-thick tube fitted with a tiny camera. Your surgeon inserts the arthroscope into the rotator cuff through a tiny skin incision and it sends images of the site to a screen in the operating room.

Call the Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida office if you have a rotator cuff tear, or book an appointment online today.