How long can you wait to repair a torn rotator cuff?
How long can you wait to repair a torn rotator cuff?
In conclusion, acute traumatic tears of the rotator cuff in previously healthy shoulders can be repaired with an open technique, at least up to 3 months after the injury.
What happens if you wait too long for rotator cuff surgery?
The bottom line is that based on these studies, 6 months appears to a reasonable timeline within which to repair the rotator cuff and optimize one’s outcome. When delayed, there is often progression in tear size and a decreased biologic potential for healing.
Can you live with a torn rotator cuff without surgery?
Even though most tears cannot heal on their own, good function can often be achieved without surgery. If, however, you are active and use your arm for overhead work or sports, then surgery is most often recommended because many tears will not heal without surgery.
Is it bad to put off rotator cuff surgery?
While you may want to postpone surgery, it can lead to future damage of the shoulder joint. In some situations, delaying the surgical repair of the shoulder can increase the chances that a problem will be more difficult to treat later on.
Can a torn rotator cuff cause permanent damage?
Without treatment, rotator cuff problems may lead to permanent loss of motion or weakness, and may result in progressive degeneration of the shoulder joint.
When should you not have rotator cuff surgery?
Most rotator cuff tears don’t require surgery to heal. This is because most people with rotor cuff tears don’t have any problem with their shoulders. Even if the torn rotator cuff causes shoulder pain, you can get relief without surgical treatment.
What is considered a massive rotator cuff tear?
Massive rotator cuff tears are typically defined as rupture of at least two of the four rotator cuff tendons and/or retraction away from the attachment site of 5 cm or greater. Thus, these are generally accepted as more challenging repairs with a longer recovery. Tendon healing to bone biologically takes 3 months.
Why is it not possible to repair a torn rotator cuff?
Surgical repair of a rotator cuff tear may not be possible for a few different reasons: The tendon damage is too severe: If the rotator cuff tear is very large (a massive rotator cuff tear) and has been present for a long time, there is a chance that surgical repair is not possible.
What are the risks of delaying rotator cuff surgery?
Risk in Delaying Rotator Cuff Surgery. They are involved in many day-to-day activities. The rotator cuff muscles and tendons also help keep the shoulder joint stable by holding the humeral head in the glenoid socket. Degenerative changes due to the aging process are the most common cause of rotator cuff tears in older adults.
Can a rotator cuff tear be a sign of aging?
As you grow older, there’s a tendency to tear your rotator cuff. This happens as part of the aging process. Just as your skin wrinkles and your hair turns gray, the likelihood of having a rotator cuff tear increases as you grow older.
What kind of surgery is needed for a rotator cuff tear?
These treatment options may include: Shoulder debridement surgery (abrasion arthroplasty): In this situation, your surgeon is doing a “cleanup” procedure on the shoulder. Partial rotator cuff repair: When a large rotator cuff tear is determined to be beyond repair, surgery to make the tear smaller may be possible.
