Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair in Chennai

There is no other treatment for torn rotator cuff other than surgery. With enough medication and physiotherapy, people can improve joint function and decrease pain, but without surgical intervention, the tear will not heal entirely, and the patient will lack strength in their limbs.

A rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint that helps maintain arm function. It supports the shoulder joint and helps keep the motions of the humerus smoother. In addition, it helps perform the abduction, medial rotation and lateral rotation motions of the arm.

Rotator cuff injuries are self-diagnosable. If you want to check for rotator cuff injury, follow the given checklist:

Torn rotator cuff operation, also known as, torn rotator cuff and bone spur surgery, is the best treatment for such injuries.

• Pain and difficulty in raising the arm
• Popping sound while moving the arm
• Shoulder pain worsening at night and resting
• Unable to lift heavy items in the affected shoulder joint

Suture anchors are tiny screws that are used to attach soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, and meniscus to the bone to enhance healing in arthroscopic procedures. At Pristyn Care, we use PEEK and other biocomposite suture anchors material for rotator cuff surgery.

The average cost of rotator cuff surgery in Chennai is 60,000-75,000 INR at Pristyn Care. This is the average cost of our treatment package and includes the cost of other auxiliary facilities we provide. It can depend based on:

• Type of suture anchors used
• Number of suture anchors used
• Hospitalization fees
• Technology used
• Insurance coverage
• Medications required, etc.

This test is performed to find out the weakness of the supraspinatus muscle. The supraspinatus muscle is most often injured rotator cuff muscle. In this test, you have to extend your arm outside/to the side while in a sitting/standing position. First, raise your arm to 90 degrees with or without a helper, then try to lower the arm in a very controlled manner. If you have an injured rotator cuff, controlled lowering of the atm will be very painful and challenging.

It is the most reliable test for diagnosing a rotator cuff injury. The test is performed with an assistant’s help to look for weaknesses in the supraspinatus muscle. Raise your arm at a 90 degree angle, parallel to the ground. Then rotate your arm, palm facing backwards and thumb facing down. Then have a helper apply force on the arm and push back against the helper. If you have pain and difficulty resisting, that is a definite sign of a rotator cuff injury.

Lift-off test is performed to test the function of the subscapularis muscle, a muscle in front of the shoulder blade. To perform the test, place your injured arm behind your back with your palm resting on your lower back and then try to raise your arm. If you have any pain, then you may have a rotator cuff injury.

If you have a rotator cuff injury, you should get treatment as soon as possible to prevent the damage from worsening. The earlier it is treated, the less complicated the treatment will be. Make sure to keep the shoulder immobile to not exacerbate the injury.

Usually, mild traumatic rotator cuff injuries heal within 2 to 4 weeks with medical management. However, chronic and severe injuries may take a few months, including physiotherapy. Since rotator cuff tears do not heal without surgery, severe rotator cuff tears can be healed within 4 to 6 months with surgery.

Depending on the severity of the rotator cuff injury, you may require 2-8 weeks of physiotherapy after the surgery. You will be discharged in 1-2 days after the surgery. You can minimize the stiffness of the shoulder joint by immediately beginning the physiotherapy.

Complete healing from rotator cuff surgery takes 4-6 months, depending on the severity of the injury. However, most patients regain almost shoulder function and strength within 2-8 weeks. In chronic severe injuries, complete recovery may even take over a year. A torn rotator cuff in the elderly can also take much longer to heal due to their declining recovery capability.

You should massage the injured shoulder by applying heat. It helps control the inflammation and pain in the area by releasing the scar tissue and loosening the tight muscles, thus increasing the range of motion of the joint. However, you should avoid deep tissue massage till your doctor has approved of it.

Rotator cuff injuries are very common and, if not properly managed, can cause permanent disabilities. They can be caused by:

The most common reason behind rotator cuff injuries is muscle degeneration due to aging or arthritis.

• Sudden jerk to the muscle when falling on an outstretched arm
• Chronic injury due to repetitive motions
• Muscle degeneration

A rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint that includes:

• Supraspinatus for internal rotation and lifting the arm
• Infraspinatus for external rotation of the arm
• Teres minor for rotation of the arm
• Subscapularis for arm abduction
• Tendons attaching muscles to the bone

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery is very safe and usually does not have any complications. Patients usually feel no pain after rotator cuff surgery, however, sometimes, in rare cases, there may be some complications associated with it:

• Infection
• Nerve or blood vessel injury
• Hemorrhage
• Shoulder stiffness
• Failure to repair and improve the symptoms
• Complex regional pain syndrome
• Osteoarthritis after rotator cuff surgery

Certain medications can increase the chances of infection and hemorrhage after rotator cuff surgery. Therefore, you should avoid certain medicines like aspirin, coumadin, celebrex, ibuprofen, naprosyn, plavix, etc., after the surgery. Do not take any medication without consulting your doctor beforehand.