Rotator Cuff Tear

Causes of Rotator Cuff Tear

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. It covers the ball at the head of the upper arm bone helping to keep it within the shallow shoulder socket. The rotator cuff can become torn following a fall or as the result of overuse. The risk of tears increases with age.

Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Tear

The symptoms of a torn rotator cuff include pain in the shoulder which feels like a dull ache deep inside the joint. It can be hard to reach behind your back or above your head and your arm may feel weak. The pain of this type of injury can make it difficult to sleep.

Diagnosis of Rotator Cuff Tear

Your doctor will carry out a physical examination and will assess the strength and mobility of your shoulder and arms. You may be referred for diagnostic testing, such as an X-ray or ultrasound which can help to rule out conditions like arthritis and can also assess the way your shoulder moves and the extent of any tearing.

Treatment of Rotator Cuff Tear

If the injury is minor, we normally recommend conservative treatment for a rotator cuff tears – resting your shoulder, using ice and painkillers to reduce pain and inflammation and performing regular exercises to improve strength and flexibility in the shoulder joint. For more serious rotator cuff tears, you may be offered a steroid injection into the joint to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. There are different surgical procedures depending on the extent of the damage to the rotator cuff. These include repairing the damaged tendon, reattaching it to the bone or replacing it with a tendon taken from another part of your body. In the most serious rotator cuff injuries, a shoulder replacement may be the best option. Your surgeon will discuss the procedure that is most suitable for your particular injury.