Rotator cuff tear is a common injury affecting the patient’s shoulder. The rotator cuff refers to a region in the shoulder comprising muscles and tendons that hold your shoulder in place. Your rotator cuff helps you move your shoulder freely, lift your arm, and perform a range of other actions smoothly.

You may end up injuring or tearing your rotator cuff while playing a sport, meeting with an accident, or causing wear and tear due to age. In most cases, rotator cuff tears result due to sudden falls, sports injuries, and road traffic accidents. When you tear your rotator cuff, it often requires a surgical treatment to repair the region effectively. Rotator cuff tear surgery may involve getting rid of the bone spurs pinching your shoulder from within or repairing the torn tendons in your shoulder.

Today, most orthopedic surgeons resort to arthroscopy to repair rotator cuff tears. If you or anyone in your family has torn their rotator cuff, make sure you approach the best orthopedic doctor in your city for holistic treatment. For example, if you live in Gurgaon, opt for the best rotator cuff surgery in Gurgaon done by surgeons who are in sync with modern medical procedures.

In this blog, we will discuss everything you should be aware of before, during, and after your rotator cuff surgery.

Preparing For Your Rotator Cuff Surgery

While your orthopedic surgeon will guide you regarding the entire treatment procedure, it is important to know how patients prepare before getting under the scissors.

Here are some of the most important activities performed as you prepare for your rotator cuff surgery:

Procedure Explanation

Before anything else, your orthopedic surgeon will explain the entire procedure to you. Even if you go in with a clean slate, a responsible doctor will give you all the necessary information about the surgery. This is also the stage where you can get all your doubts cleared and queries answered.

Giving Your Consent

Before your surgery begins, you will also be asked to give your consent by signing a form given by the hospital. Make sure you read the form carefully and go through all the clauses before going into the operation theater.

Physical Examination

Before you get under the scissors, the healthcare professionals at the hospital will perform a thorough physical examination to ensure that you are in good health and will respond well to the rotator cuff surgery. This examination often includes specific diagnostic tests, the most common being a blood test.

Talking About Your Allergies And Medicines

At this stage, it is always advisable to talk to your orthopedic surgeon and their team about the allergies you have and the medicines you take (if any). This will help the healthcare providers to prepare accordingly. Moreover, clearly inform them if you suffer from any bleeding disorders or have been taking medicines that aid blood clotting.

Fasting

Your rotator cuff surgeon will ask you to fast for eight hours before the surgery starts.

Steps Involved In Rotator Cuff Surgery

Once you are ready for the surgery and your orthopedic surgeon is satisfied with all the pre-surgical diagnostic tests, the rotator cuff surgery begins.

Here are the major steps involved in rotator cuff surgery:

  1. First of all, you will be given a gown and asked to remove the clothes you are wearing.
  2. The staff may start an intravenous line in your hand.
  3. You will then be positioned effectively on the operational table with an anesthesiologist continuously monitoring your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and other vitals throughout the surgery.
  4. After cleaning the affected site using an antiseptic solution, the surgeon will make an incision therein to start the surgical procedure.
  5. In the case of shoulder arthroscopy, the surgeon will insert a miniature camera device (arthroscope) into your shoulder. This device will help the surgeon see the inside of your shoulder on a monitor.
  6. The orthopedic surgeon may also make a few other incisions to insert surgical tools.
  7. Depending on the injury, the surgeon will repair your shoulder’s tendons or muscles accordingly. If needed, they will replace the damaged/torn rotator cuff with a tissue graft. This graft can either be obtained from a different part of your body or from a donor.
  8. Any bone spurs present in your shoulder will now be removed.
  9. Once the affected area is repaired or the rotator cuff is reconstructed, the surgeon will close the incision with surgical staples or stitches.
  10. Finally, a suitable bandage and dressing will be applied before you leave the operation theater.

Things To Consider After Your Rotator Cuff Surgery

All is not well simply because your rotator cuff surgery was successfully completed! It is extremely important to focus on post-surgical rehabilitation to recover faster and more effectively.

After the surgery is completed, the healthcare team of your surgeon will examine your vitals before you leave the hospital. They may also give you an immobilizer or a sling for support as you go home. Once you reach home, make sure you perform the right exercises and keep the affected region dry to heal the right way. Most hospitals connect you with a physiotherapist who instructs you to perform specific exercises that help you regain your shoulder’s mobility.

You may experience swelling at regular intervals after your surgery. The best way to tackle this is to keep an ice pack with you all day. Depending on your injury, it may take a few weeks to a few months before you completely recover from a rotator cuff tear. Make sure you follow all instructions provided by your surgeon and physiotherapist for the best results.

The Final Word

These were a few important things you should keep in mind before, during, and after your rotator cuff surgery. Especially if you are an athlete, ensure that you pay keen attention to the rehabilitation procedure to get back on the field without any chances of encountering an unfortunate relapse!