Rotator Cuff Tear
More serious than frozen shoulder: the number of patients reporting pain rose 89% in six years.
Four tendons wrap around the shoulder. Together called the rotator cuff, they move the shoulder and keep it stable. A tear in one or more of them is a rotator cuff tear.
Common causes
01
Sports that strain the shoulder
02
Jobs that use the shoulder a lot
03
Degeneration
04
Strong external impact
Signs to watch for
- A catching feeling inside the shoulder, with spreading pain
- Pain that makes daily life difficult
- Difficulty raising the arm on your own
How we diagnose
Ultrasound
Examines the joint while it moves, so problems that appear only in certain positions can be found. Inflamed areas can be treated with guided injections at the same time.
MRI
Shows soft tissue that X-ray cannot, such as muscles, ligaments, discs, cartilage, nerves and blood vessels.
How we treat it
Treatment depends on the size of the tear. For small tears, medication, injections and shockwave therapy can improve symptoms.
Collagen regenerative injection
A medication that supports cell differentiation and tissue regeneration is injected into the damaged area, activating the body's healing process. One of the most common regenerative treatments.
Nerve block
Medication is injected into the nerve or nerve ganglion at the painful area, or the nerve is calmed by physical means, to improve the abnormal lesion, increase blood flow and relieve pain.
Arthroscopy
Through a minimal incision under about 5 mm, an arthroscope with a tiny camera and special instruments is inserted into the joint. It shows areas that are hard to see on X-ray, allowing accurate diagnosis and treatment at the same time.
When surgery is consideredFor a full tear with loss of function, surgery is done arthroscopically under general anesthesia. Large tears may need a small incision.