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Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: rotator cuff + cuff tear + cuff  Related to the article below (Last Update: 7/1/2008)

Ortho SuperSite Arthroscopic Biceps Tenodesis Incorporated Into Rotator Cuff ... Ortho SuperSite, NJ - Jun 23, 2008 The rotator cuff tear is characterized. The rotator cuff tendon edges are debrided and the greater tuberosity is roughened down to bleeding bone. ... Efficacy of Repeat Shoulder Magnetic Resonance Imaging Ortho SuperSite all 2 news articles » Injured DH Ortiz to show up for All-Star Game, won't play Baltimore Sun, United States - Gagne had been out since May 23 because of right rotator cuff tendinitis. ... Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre was placed on the 15-day DL after spraining a ... FROM THE COVER Baltimore Sun, United States - Jun 26, 2008 Shoulder arthritis can occur from everyday wear and tear, but it is more likely to occur in people who are in their late 50s and 60s, whereas rotator cuff ... Canada.com Surgery result optimistic for Curt Schilling Boston Herald, United States - Jun 23, 2008 The most encouraging aspect of the operation was the minimal damage found in Schilling?s rotator cuff. It was believed that the 41-year-old?s chance at ... Schilling Undergoes Shoulder Surgery Hartford Courant Schilling's surgery a success MLB.com No major rotator cuff damage for Schill Boston Globe Boston Herald - Hartford Courant all 1,142 news articles » Rotator cuff repair WHOI, IL - Jun 17, 2008 The other ends of the muscles are attached to a single tendon that anchors the rotator cuff to the shoulder blade (scapula). A rotator cuff tear can occur ... Schilling undergoes surgery National Post, Canada - Jun 23, 2008 "What we didn't want to find is a big rotator cuff tear, because that's a long rehab," Morgan said. "That was fixed, with just a single stitch. ... Shoulder Surgery A Success For Schilling Hartford Courant, United States - Jun 24, 2008 "The rotator cuff tear was minor. Dr. Morgan fixed it to prevent it from getting worse. But it wasn't serious. The biceps part, I think, he'll recover from ... A New Approach to Rotator Cuff Surgery RedOrbit, TX - Jun 9, 2008 When a patient comes in with a rotator cuff tear, Dr. Gemlick assesses the tear and categorizes it as small, medium, large or massive. ... ESPN Notes: Hardy has strained left rotator cuff Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI - Jun 13, 2008 The joint isn?t completely coming out but it is ?moving around? and creates friction, which shuts down the rotator cuff, leading to the feeling. ... Brewers SS Hardy to rest left shoulder The Canadian Press Brewers SS Hardy to rest left shoulder WBAY all 31 news articles » Rotator cuff repair: Current concepts and applications Ortho SuperSite, NJ - Jun 5, 2008 Ahmad: Pearl number one: Recognize that every rotator cuff tear is unique and has its own personality. Spend time to recognize the tear pattern and the ...

Rotator Cuff Tears

One of the most common shoulder conditions for people over 40 years old is a rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff is comprised of the muscles and tendons that surround the top of the upper arm bone (humerus) and hold it in the shoulder joint. A tear may result suddenly from a single traumatic event or develop gradually because of repetitive overhead activities.

There are many symptoms for a rotator cuff tear:

• Recurrent, constant pain, particularly with overhead activities
• Pain at night that prevents you from sleeping on the affected side
• Muscle weakness, especially when lifting the arm
  
• Catching, grating or cracking sounds when the arm is moved

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• Limited motion
  
• Usually occurs in the dominant arm (right shoulder for right-handed people; left shoulder for left-handed people)
• May be triggered by a specific incident
  

• Repetitive overhead motion, such as pitching or painting a ceiling
  
• Heavy lifting
  
• Trauma from excessive force, such as a fall
  
• Degeneration due to aging or reduced blood flow to the tendon
  
• Narrowing of the space (acromioclavicular arch) between the collarbone (clavicle) and the top portion (acromion) of the shoulder bone (scapula).
• Rubbing of the cuff surface by the top of the shoulder bone.
  

Your doctor will discuss your symptoms and the circumstances around the time when they first appeared. He or she may ask if you had any recent injuries or accidents.

During a physical examination, the doctor will look at the top and back of your shoulder to see if the muscles have begun to shrink (atrophy). You may be asked to move your arm in several directions, or to hold it in various positions. X-rays and other diagnostic imaging scans can help the doctor see any problems with the bones. One such test is an arthrogram, in which a dye is injected into the joint before the X-ray is taken. Other imaging tests include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound.

There are two types of rotator cuff tears:

• Partial, which is a tear that doesn't completely sever the tendon. This type of injury may respond well to nonsurgical treatments. If it does not, surgery may be done.
• Full thickness tears, in which the tendon is torn into two pieces. This type of tear requires surgery to repair.

The specific treatment your doctor uses will depend on your injury, the amount of pain you are having and your ability move and use your arm.

Usually the first approach to treatment is conservative treatment - care that does not involve surgery. This type of treatment involves resting your arm and shoulder, taking drugs to reduce the swelling and help control pain, physical therapy or corticosteroid injections can help reduce pain but cannot be repeated frequently because they can also weaken the tendon.

Ultrasound can enhance the ability of drugs that are applied to the surface of your body. It also has warming effects that may help healing.

There are several surgical options to treat rotator cuff tears, depending on the size, depth, and location of the tear. If other problems with the shoulder are discovered during the surgery, they will be corrected as well.

• Arthroscopy, in which miniature instruments are inserted into small incisions, can be used to remove bone spurs or inflammatory portions of muscle and to repair lesser tears.
  
• A mini-open repair that combines arthroscopy and a small incision can be used to treat full-thickness tears.
• In more severe cases, open surgery is required to repair the injured tendon. Sometimes a tissue transfer or a tendon graft is used.
  
  
• Shoulder joint replacement is also an option for extreme cases.

It takes some time to recover from shoulder surgery. Full functioning may not return for six months or more. Your doctor will recommend a program of exercises to strengthen and restore motion, including physical therapy. Although every case is unique, surgery can relieve pain for most people and rehabilitation can restore functional range of motion.