Rotator Cuff Injuries Treatment: Non-surgical and Surgical Options

What is Rotator Cuff?

The Rotator Cuff Injuries is a group of four tendons that connect the humerus (upper arm bone) to the scapula (shoulder blade). These four tendons (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis) work together to stabilize the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint) and allow for arm movement. The rotator cuff is essential for shoulder movement and function.

Causes of Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator cuff injuries occur due to repetitive overhead activities or sudden trauma to the shoulder. Some common causes of rotator cuff injuries include:
- Overuse: Repetitive overhead activities like weightlifting, swimming or throwing can slowly damage the tendons over time.
- Age: The rotator cuff tendons degenerate with age making older individuals more prone to injuries.
- Trauma: A fall on an outstretched arm or direct blow to the shoulder can tear the tendons.

Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injuries
The main symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include shoulder pain that is often worse with overhead activities or lifting the arm away from the body. Some other symptoms are:
- Weakness: Inability to lift or rotate the arm with the same force as earlier.
- Stiffness: Shoulder feels stiff, especially in the morning.
- Catching or popping: Sensation of bone rubbing against bone inside the shoulder joint.
- Swelling: Tenderness and swelling around the shoulder.

Non-surgical Rotator Cuff Injuries Treatment Options
Most mild to moderate rotator cuff injuries are first treated non-surgically:

Rest and ice: Resting the shoulder gives the tendons a chance to heal. Icing prevents inflammation and reduces pain.
Physical therapy: Stretches and exercises help improve range of motion, strengthen muscles and prevent re-injury. Therapists may perform ultrasound, electrical stimulation or gentle massage.
NSAIDs: Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen help reduce pain and swelling.
Corticosteroid injections: Injection of corticosteroids directly into the shoulder joint provides short-term relief from pain and inflammation.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections: PRP contains concentrated platelets that release growth factors to help repair damaged tissue.

If non-surgical treatments do not provide sufficient relief after 3-6 months, surgery may be recommended.

Surgical Rotator Cuff Injuries Treatment Options
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: This minimally invasive surgery uses anarthroscope(special tiny video camera) to assess damage inside the shoulder joint. Any torn tendons are reattached to bone using suture anchors and stitches. This allows natural healing over several months.

Open Rotator Cuff Repair: A larger incision is made for open surgery that gives the surgeon better visualization if the tear is large or retracted. The procedure for repair is same as arthroscopic one. However, recovery takes longer with an open procedure.

Debridement: For tendons that are badly damaged and cannot be repaired, loose flaps are trimmed (debrided) during surgery to remove sources of pain.

Biceps Tenodesis: When the biceps tendon is also injured, it may be detached from the damaged shoulder and reattached to the humerus for stability.

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: This is recommended for severe, irreparable rotator cuff tears in elderly patients. The normal ball and socket joint is converted to a "reverse" configuration for better function.

Regardless of the surgical approach, postoperative rehabilitation is extremely important for regaining strength and mobility. Most return to regular activities in about 4-6 months following surgery. While rotator cuff surgery has excellent success rates, surgery may not provide complete relief of symptoms in severe, chronic cases.

Alternative rotator cuff injuries treatment like acupuncture and chiropractic care are also tried by some patients. However, more research is still needed to validate their efficacy for rotator cuff injuries. In general, a combined approach of rest, physical therapy, medications and lifestyle modifications works best to manage cuff injuries non-surgically before considering surgery. Seeing an experienced orthopedic surgeon promptly aids appropriate treatment planning.

 

Get more insights on this topic :

About Author:

Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)

*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it