Rotator Cuff Injuries
The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons that wrap around the shoulder joint and keep it in the correct position to allow comfortable movement. When any part of the cuff is injured this can cause pain, typically felt over the outer side of the shoulder.
Impingement
This pain is often worst when attempting to lift the shoulder out to one side and improves as the arm is lifted high up, (this is often referred to as a painful arc ). The muscles are usually out of balance so that a tendon is 'pinched' under the bone of the acromion. This is called (sub acromial ) impingement.
Early Treatment
This usually consists of specific exercises, often guided by a Physiotherapist, to help to restore balance to the shoulder muscles.
If this alone is insufficient then an injection of steroid can be added to the treatment
Surgical Treatment
If conservative treatment is insufficient then an operation may be required.
Mr Hamlet will be able to advise you on this. Many procedures can now be done with keyhole surgery, and often as a daycase (home the same day)
The commonest procedure at this stage is a sub acromial decompression
If the damage is more severe then a Rotator cuff repair may be necessary. The results depend on the age of the patient, the size of the tear and the length of time since the tear occurred.
Mr Hamlet can advise you on this.
If the tear is massive and causing significant functional disability then a reverse Polarity shoulder replacement may be most suitable
Impingement
This pain is often worst when attempting to lift the shoulder out to one side and improves as the arm is lifted high up, (this is often referred to as a painful arc ). The muscles are usually out of balance so that a tendon is 'pinched' under the bone of the acromion. This is called (sub acromial ) impingement.
Early Treatment
This usually consists of specific exercises, often guided by a Physiotherapist, to help to restore balance to the shoulder muscles.
If this alone is insufficient then an injection of steroid can be added to the treatment
Surgical Treatment
If conservative treatment is insufficient then an operation may be required.
Mr Hamlet will be able to advise you on this. Many procedures can now be done with keyhole surgery, and often as a daycase (home the same day)
The commonest procedure at this stage is a sub acromial decompression
If the damage is more severe then a Rotator cuff repair may be necessary. The results depend on the age of the patient, the size of the tear and the length of time since the tear occurred.
Mr Hamlet can advise you on this.
If the tear is massive and causing significant functional disability then a reverse Polarity shoulder replacement may be most suitable