Information for Patients
From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Rotator Cuff Tears
Rotator cuff repair is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the shoulder. Historically, the repair was performed through an open approach. An open repair remains the gold standard and is a proven method of treatment. Recently, the use of arthroscopy has enabled surgeons to repair the cuff through more minimally invasive approaches offering several advantages over the open incision. This gives the surgeon many options in surgical decision-making. This article will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of rotator cuff tears with the open, arthroscopically assisted (mini-open), and entirely arthroscopic approaches.
Keywords: rotator cuff tear, rotator cuff rupture, rotator cuff disease, rotator cuff dysfunction, cuff tears, rotator cuff tendinopathy, impingement syndrome, incidence, mechanism of injury, etiology, diagnosis, patient history, physical examination, imaging, radiography, MRI, ultrasound, differential diagnosis, management, nonsurgical treatment, surgical treatment, surgical techniques, open repair, mini open repair, arthroscopy, arthroscopic repair, indications, contraindications, outcomes, complications, rehabilitation