Arthroscopic Repair of Rotator Cuff Tear

Rotator Cuff

• Group of four muscles that surround the humeral head (ball of the shoulder joint)
• The muscles include supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subcapularis
• Provide rotation, elevate the arm, and give stability to the shoulder joint
• Supraspinatus is most frequently torn in degenerative tears of the rotator cuff
• More than one tendon can be involved

Rotator Cuff Tears

• Pain, loss of motion, and weakness may occur when one of the rotator cuff tendons tears
• The tendons generally tear off at their insertion (attachment) onto the humeral head

What Happens in these Tears?

• Rotator cuff tears will not heal on their own
• The natural history is one of gradual increase in size of the tear
• When tears become too massive, they are sometimes not repairable
• Pain can often be treated without surgery but weakness and loss of function can only be treated with surgical repair

Please note that the information contained herein is for general medical information only.
If you have any specific medical condition or queries, please consult your medical doctor.