Rotator cuff
shoulder injuries in sports are usually a result of microtrauma from repetitive
movements.
For competitive or recreational athletes
involved in baseball, tennis, or swimming, shoulder disorders, especially
rotator cuff injuries, can be debilitating and cause significant disabilities.
Therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment can improve symptoms profoundly.
The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons
that combine to provide normal functioning and stability in the shoulder.
Each of the tendons connects a muscle in
the shoulder blade as part of the upper arm bone.
“In the past, men and women younger than
age 40 were more likely to have partial thickness tears, which are easier
to repair,” said Kevin Plancher, MD, a leading Manhattan Orthopaedic Surgeon
and Sports Medicine Specialist and head of Plancher Orthopaedics &
Sports Medicine PLLC in New York City. “Older people, with full thickness
tears, were less likely to have their shoulder fully repaired—the key is
the size and quality of the tendon tissue that is found in the damaged
shoulder.
Now, a new technique known as the “Arthroscopic
Rotator Cuff Repair” uses a small incision demonstrating excellent results,
in older people and those with difficult problems.”
As people age, the muscle and tendon tissue
of the rotator cuff loses some elasticity, becomes more susceptible to
injuries, and is often damaged while performing everyday activities. This
is the reason why rotator cuff tears are more commonly seen in the elderly.
In younger patients, damaged is caused by
either a traumatic injury, or the patient is demanding unusual use of their
shoulder, as is the case in professional athletes.
“By utilizing the arthroscopic approach”
Dr. Plancher added, “there is significantly less associated trauma than
with a traditional “open” rotator cuff repair or even “mini-open” approach.
For the arthroscopic procedure, the patient
is brought into a surgicenter or hospital on an outpatient basis.
Regional anesthesia allows the patient to
go home more comfortably without the need for general anesthesia.
Several small holes –less than 1cm – are
made around the shoulder. Using a camera and video screen, the Rotator
Cuff is manipulated and repaired back to the bone where it tore off. Sutures
with a wire core center are used and patients are placed in a sling post
operatively.
Most patients can expect to return to sports
three to four months after surgery.
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