Conservative methods like practicing the RICE steps (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), taking medication, or participating in physical therapy are the first steps to take if you have a rotator cuff injury. Still, sometimes they don’t always give you the results you need. If nonsurgical methods fail to alleviate your pain, we may recommend rotator cuff surgery.
Though surgery may seem daunting, arthroscopic surgery is an alternative to traditional surgery that can repair your damage with less downtime and risk.
At Crescent City Orthopedics, our team of rotator cuff tear specialists has the expertise and experience to treat your injury with arthroscopy. Here’s what you need to know.
If you have experienced any of the following, you may want to consider arthroscopic surgery:
During your evaluation and consultation, we can help determine the right choice for you.
If you’re a candidate for surgery, most of our arthroscopic surgical repairs are outpatient, so you typically don’t need an overnight stay in the hospital. It’s also possible that if you have additional injuries to the area, such as bone spurs, osteoarthritis, or biceps tendon tears, we can tend to those at the same time.
Shoulder arthroscopy isn’t new to the scene. Surgeons have been performing this type of surgery since the 1970s. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that allows us to see inside your joints.
To perform the surgery, we make a small incision in your shoulder. Because the surgical instruments and camera are so small, we only have to place minimal-sized incisions in your skin.
Next, we place a tiny camera in your shoulder joint. The camera casts a live video to a screen, allowing us to see where to make repairs with our surgical tools.
If you have a partial tear, you may only need fraying portions of your tendon trimmed. After your surgery, you can expect to wear a sling for 4-6 weeks and then start physical therapy. Though each case is different, on average - it can take 4-6 months to experience a full recovery.
This surgery is the least invasive option to repair your torn rotator cuff.
The high success rate people have with arthroscopic surgery is just one of several benefits.
Others include:
If you suffer from rotator cuff pain, come in for an evaluation. Tears can continue to grow if you don’t catch them early. We can give you an accurate diagnosis and discuss your treatment options right away.
If you’ve suffered a rotator cuff injury, don’t hesitate to come in and see us. We can get you on the road to recovery quickly. Click here to contact us at the office nearest you in Metairie, Chalmette, or Covington, Louisiana.
