Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

What is arthroscopic rotator cuff repair?

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is performed to treat tears in the rotator cuff tendon. Your surgeon may recommend this procedure if conservative treatments have no effect. The procedure varies depending on the severity of the tear, but usually involves the reattachment of the torn tendon to the humerus, or upper arm bone. The procedure is performed as minimally invasive as possible, but if the tear is very severe, part of the procedure may have to be performed as open surgery.

Who needs this procedure?

The rotator cuff is made of muscles and tendons that come together to cover the head of the humerus. These tendons attach the humerus to the shoulder blade and plays a large part in your ability to lift and rotate your arm. Symptoms of rotator cuff tears vary depending on the severity of the injury, which can occur from trauma, injury, or from natural degeneration of the tendon. Rotator cuff injury is very common and very painful. People who work or perform in a manner that requires repetitive stress on the rotator cuff tendons, like those who do work that requires extensive arm lifting, and anyone over the age of 40 could potentially suffer from a rotator cuff tear. Symptoms include arm weakness or pain when lifting, making specific movements, or rotating the arm, pain when resting on the affected shoulder, and a crackling sensation in the shoulder when performing certain movements. Pain from rotator cuff damage increases as time goes on.

Initial incisions and insertion of arthroscope

After anesthesia is applied, the surgeon make small incisions on the shoulder. A small camera called an arthroscope is inserted through one of the incisions. The surgeon uses the arthroscope for image guidance during the surgery. At this stage, the arthroscope is used to inspect the damaged joint.

Debridement

Using small tools inserted through the initial incisions, loose tendon fragments and other debris from the damaged tendon are removed in a process called debridement. The surgeon inspects the tissue damage to decide if more surgery is necessary.

Smoothing of acromion

The surgeon inserts a special tool into one of the incisions to remove bone spurs from the bottom of the acromion and smooth out its surface in a procedure called subacromial decompression. This is done to prevent the acromion from impinging on the supraspinatus tendon, which can be very painful.

Rotator cuff inspected

The surgeon may end the procedure here if no rotator cuff tears are present. If a tear is found in the rotator cuff tendon, method of repair will vary according to the size and severity of the tear. Arthroscopic repair, or repair made through the small incisions using special tools, may be made if the tears are small to moderate-sized. Large tears may require open surgery. The surgeon will start by cleaning the area of the tendon where the tear is present and clearing an area on the humerus.

Placement of anchors

The surgeon creates small holes in the cleared area of the humerus and places special tools called anchors into the holes. These will hold stitches in place.

The tendon is sutured

The surgeon then stitches the tear back together. The tendon is reattached to the humerus by pulling the sutures against the anchors placed in the previous step.

End of procedure

Instruments are removed, and the incisions are closed. The patient's arm may be placed in a sling.

After surgery

If the surgery is performed entirely arthroscopically, it will be an outpatient procedure. This means the patient may leave the hospital that day. Longer hospital time may be required if the tear requires open surgery to repair. Your doctor will prescribe physical therapy to help restore normal and pain-free mobility after the surgery. Recovery time varies depending on the severity of the initial injury and the patient's adherence to the physical therapy prescribed.