Rotator Cuff Repair

What is the rotator cuff and what is its function in shoulder anatomy?

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that provide shoulder movement and stabilize the joint between the upper arm bone (also known as the humerus) and the shoulder blade. There are four muscles that make up the rotator cuff :

• the supraspinatus,
  the infraspinatus,
  the teres minor
  the subscapularis muscle.

The tendons of each of these muscles connect to the arm bone. Not only does the rotator cuff allow you to rotate your arm, it also makes it possible for you to lift your arm above the level of your shoulders.

What is a rotator cuff repair and how is it performed?

Even though some rotator cuff tears may be treated with conservative methods, there are cases that require surgical intervention. There are three main ways to surgically treat a rotator cuff tear, and the choice of the best method depends on various factors, including the severity of the tear and the unique elements of your shoulder anatomy.

Open Repair:

Even though technology has advanced to a point where less invasive methods are chosen more often, certain indications such as a complex or a large tear still exist for performing an open procedure. During an open repair, your surgeon makes an incision over the shoulder and detaches the deltoid shoulder muscle. Using open repair to treat a rotator cuff tear may benefit those who also need to fix any additional problems with their shoulder.

All – arthroscopic repair

Modern methods allow surgeons to insert a camera (called an arthroscope) into the shoulder joint, therefore avoiding the necessity to make a large incision. The inside of the joint is displayed on a monitor, which helps the surgeon to be more precise during the procedure.

Mini Open-Repair

Unlike open repair, the incision for this procedure is comparatively small – from 3 to 5 centimeters long. Nonetheless, this technique involves repairing the torn tendon while looking at it directly rather than through an arthroscopic camera. However, arthroscopy is included if there is a need to evaluate and treat any other type of damage within the shoulder joint.

Repairing the rotator cuff involves using suture anchors (small rivets), which are used to attach the tendon to the bone. There are different types of anchor sutures available – they can be either made of metal or a dissolvable material.