Shoulder

Rotator Cuff Tear

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Treatment

In most cases, the initial treatment involves:

• Rest. If the tear is due in part to overuse, resting the shoulder may help.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications will help control pain.
• Strengthening and stretching exercises, as part of a physical therapy program, are recommended.
• Corticosteroid injections can help reduce pain but cannot be repeated frequently because they can also weaken the tendon.
• Ultrasound can enhance the delivery of topically applied drugs and has thermal effects that may also help in the healing process.

There are several surgical options to treat rotator cuff tears, depending on the size, depth, and location of the tear. If other problems with the shoulder are discovered during the surgery, they will be corrected as well.

The three main options for surgical repair are:

• "Open" surgery done through a five-inch incision on the front of the shoulder. The bone spur on the undersurface of the joint is removed and the cuff is attached to the upper arm bone using stitches and holes drilled in the bone.
• "Mini-Open" repair using a two-inch incision.
• Arthroscopic done using small instruments through several small Band-Aid size incisions. "Bone anchors" are placed in the upper arm bone and used to help attached the cuff with stitches. The anchors are made of either metal, plastic or a special material that your body absorbs over time.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007