Who should consider rotator cuff surgery?
Rotator cuff surgery is considered for patients with either: • acute tears of otherwise healthy tendons, or • chronic tears that remain weak or painful after a gentle exercise program. What happens without surgery? Before cuff surgery is undertaken, the patient needs to: • be in optimal health, • understand and accept the risks and alternatives of surgery, and • understand the post-operative rehabilitation program. In cases of chronic cuff tears, rotator cuff surgery can be performed whenever conditions are optimal. Sometimes the pain and stiffness from rotator cuff disease will stabilize at a level that is acceptable to the patient. In such cases the patient can delay surgery without compromising the potential for future surgery, as long as the surgeon monitors the cuff tear to make sure it is not enlarging. Sequential shoulder sonography is particularly useful in sequentially following the integrity of the cuff. In the case of an acute rotator cuff tear in otherwise healthy tissue, t
