by kerlanjobe
22. November 2011 07:59
Rotator cuff is collection of 4 muscles and the tendons which form the cuff and allow the movement of the shoulder joint. The muscles and tendons are in the ball and socket joint and help the joints to rotate. The tendons and muscles will be damaged by the overuse. When the muscles tear and the tendons are injured there will be pain in the movement of the joints this is the time when you need surgery for your rotator cuff.
Process of the Rotator Cuff Surgery: Rotator cuff surgery is a type of surgery which repairs the damaged tendons and muscles in the shoulder. The surgery is done by making a large opening on the shoulder or with small button sized incisions. The rotator cuff surgeon will initially check the damaged shoulder with a small camera to look at the condition of the tear and determine how it can be treated. Small camera is passed into the damaged shoulder through small button sized incisions.
The arthroscope is connected to the video monitor, which helps the doctor to look at the whole joint and to check the cartilage, tendons, muscles and ligaments of the shoulder. After the evaluation of the rotator cuff, the arthroscope is placed above the rotator cuff tendons, which is called subacromial space. The rotator cuff surgeon checks the tendons and cleans it out by removing the damaged tissues.
The damaged rotator cuff can be cleaned by a large incision or by smaller incisions and repair the damaged rotator cuff. The main goal of the rotator cuff surgery is to place back the tendon which is tore back to the shoulder joint. Tendons are attached to the joint with the help of sutures, sutures are generally made of a metal which are dissolved over time and which does not need removal back again. After the surgery is completed, the openings or cuts which are done for the surgery are closed and the dressing is done. When small camera is inserted into the shoulder during surgery pictures are taken to show what was there in the rotator cuff which troubled and what was removed.
Recovery after the Surgery: Rotator cuff surgery takes 3 to 6 months to recover based on the damage and the size of tear and many other factors. The sling should be worn for 4 to 6 weeks after the surgery. Pain after the surgery is reduced by some specific medications which do not have any side affects on the body. When you feel uncomfortable with the sling, you can wear immobilizer to the shoulder which helps in movement of the shoulder immediately after the surgery.
Benefits of the Surgery: Rotator cuff surgery is used to repair the torn joint and is very useful and successful in reliving pain from the rotator cuff. After the rotator cuff surgery, a person can get back to his normal work. Sometimes the rotator cuff surgery might not get all the strength back to the shoulder but it helps you to get relief from pain and do your daily activities without any problem. The result of the surgery and relief from the surgery depends on the type of tear and damage you had in the rotator cuff.