The rotator cuff is a set of muscles in the shoulder joint. It can be damaged either through traumatic injury such as a fall, or by repetitive overhand activity. Injury of the rotator cuff can result in severe shoulder pain.
Until recently, repair of a torn rotator cuff involved major surgery. Now, thanks to new miniaturized instruments and microscopic cameras, this operation can be performed with very small incisions, resulting in a potentially more rapid recovery and less scarring.
During this outpatient procedure, the surgeon usually makes three quarter-inch incisions, compared to the three-to-four inch incision required in traditional rotator cuff surgery. The rotator cuff is repaired with a variety of sutures and suture anchors that are bioabsorbable.
In the operation, ligaments supporting the shoulder joint often are repaired and arthritic bone spurs are removed.
Following the operation, a catheter is placed in the shoulder and is connected to a balloon containing pain relieving medication. The patient wears the balloon on his or her waist for three or four days until the catheter is removed in the doctor's office. Following this, the patient begins physical therapy.
For more information on rotator cuff repair:
John J. Mara, M.D.
Hartford Orthopedic Surgery, PC
1000 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut 06105
Phone: (860) 525-4469
Michael Aron, M.D.
Jay Kimmel. M.D.
Greater Hartford Orthopedic Group, PC
1000 Asylum Avenue, Suite 2126
Hartford, Connecticut 06105
Phone: 860.728.6740
Fax: 860.547.1554
Aris Yannopoulos, MD
Orthopedic Associates of Central Connecticut, PC
510 Cottage Grove Road
Bloomfield, CT 06002
Phone: 860.243.1414
Fax: 860.286.0510
or visit Saint Francis Sports Care
or the
The Health Learning Center
Saint Francis Care
114 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 714-KNOW (5669)