Shoulder Arthroscopy

What Is the Rotator Cuff?

The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles and their tendons (Supraspinatus, Infraspinatutus, Subscapularis, and Teres Minor) that surround the shoulder joint. When you raise your arm, the rotator cuff holds the ball (humeral head) of the shoulder within the socket (glenoid).

How Is the Rotator Cuff Repaired?

The rotator cuff will be repaired by making small incisions around the shoulder and by use of an arthroscope (camera) to see all the structures of the joint. Arthroscopic instruments allow Dr. Cutler to reattach the torn rotator cuff back to the bone.

Length of Stay

In most cases, this is a same-day surgery. You will need to have someone drive you home afterward.

Anesthesia

Two types of anesthesia may be given for this surgery. The first is general anesthesia, which means you are asleep. The second type of anesthesia is a nerve block that makes your arm numb and weak for about 12 – 14 hours. The anesthesiologist will speak to you about these types of anesthesia on the day of surgery. The ultimate choice of anesthesia technique is up to you and the anesthesiologist.

Incision

You will have 4 – 6 small incisions around your shoulder, each about 1cm long.

Pain

Your pain is managed with the combination of a nerve block, icing, and oral pain medications, which are prescribed for you prior to discharge. After the nerve block wears off, repairs can be very uncomfortable. Most of the pain is related to the swelling in your shoulder and will resolve in 24 – 48 hours. DO NOT take non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory pain medications such as Advil, MOTRIN®, ibuprofen, Aleve®, naproxen, or naprosyn.

Sling

Your arm will be placed in a sling prior to leaving the operating room. You are to remain in the sling 24/7 until you see the physician for your first postoperative appointment. This includes sleeping! The sling can only be removed for dressing and showering.

Dressings

You will go home with several small clear *Tegaderm dressings over gauze or a large foam tape dressing over gauze. On postoperative day 2, you may remove the dressings. You will see sutures at the incision sites. The sutures will be removed at your first postoperative visit, usually 10 – 14 days after your surgery.

Physical Therapy

For the first 6 weeks of recovery, you will be in a sling to allow the repair to begin healing. Around 6 weeks, you will attend formal physical therapy in addition to home exercising.