Category Archives: Shoulder & Elbow Shoulder

Finger Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India

“Better Prevent and Prepare rather than repent and repair”.  In the fast paced life of today pain in the joints and the bones is a common recurrence and the first thing we do is to visit an orthopaedic surgeon. He has to exercise caution as surgery may not be the preferred option always, as depending upon the conditions and symptoms of the disease one could even resort to non surgical methods.

What should I do to prepare for surgery?

You should jointly decide with your surgeon to proceed with the surgery. You should understand the procedure and talk with your surgeon if you have any concerns or questions.

Once you decide on the surgery, your doctor will suggest a complete physical examination to ensure that you are in the best possible condition to undergo an operation. On the day of the surgery, you’ll be admitted to the hospital early in the morning. You shouldn’t eat or drink after midnight, i.e. the night before surgery. The length of time you spend in the hospital depends a lot on your recovery from anesthesia post surgery. Typically, a finger joint replacement surgery can be done on an outpatient basis, that means you can leave the hospital the same day.

What happens during the operation?

The surgeons use silicone plastic implants to replace the original joint surfaces. The artificial joint functions similar to a hinge on a door. The procedure takes about two hours to complete. It may be done either using a general anesthesia that puts you to complete sleep or a local anesthesia that only numbs your hand. With the local anesthesia you’ll be awake during the surgery, but you won’t be able to see the surgery.

Once you are given anesthesia, your surgeon will ensure that the skin of your hand is free of infection by cleaning them with a germ-killing solution. An incision is made across the back of the finger joints that are to be replaced. The soft tissues are them spread apart with a retractor. Special care is taken not to damage the nearby nerve that passes by the joint. Then the joint is exposed. The ends of the bones forming the finger joint surfaces are taken off, forming flat surfaces. A burr is used to create a canal into the bones forming the finger joint.

Then the surgeons sizes the stem of the prosthesis to ensure a snug fit into the hollow bone marrow space of the bone. The prosthesis is inserted into the ends of both the finger bones. When the new joint is in place, the surgeon wraps the joint with a strip of the nearby ligament to form a tight sac. This provides some added protection and stability to the new implant. The soft tissues are sewn together, and the finger is then splinted and bandaged.

What happens immediately after surgery?

After surgery, your fingers will be bandaged with a well-padded dressing and a splint for support. The splint will keep the finger in a straightened position during healing. Some patients are placed in an arm-length cast with the finger in a straightened position for about 3 weeks post surgery. Your surgeon will check your hand in five to seven days. Stitches will be removed after 10 to 14 days. You will be given pain medication to control discomfort after surgery. You should keep your hand elevated above the level of your heart for several days to avoid swelling and throbbing. Keep it propped up on a stack of pillows while sitting or sleeping.

What should I expect during my rehabilitation?

A recovery program will be directed by a physician or an occupational therapist. Recovery will take up to three months after a prosthesis is implanted. The first few therapy treatments focus on controlling the pain and swelling from the surgery. Your therapist may use gentle massage and other hands-on treatments to ease the muscle spasm and pain. Then you’ll be asked to begin with gentle range of motion exercise. The strengthening exercises are used to provide added stability around the finger joint. You’ll learn the ways to grip and support items in order to do your tasks safely and with the least amount of stress on your new finger joint. As with any other surgery, you’ll need to avoid doing too much, too quickly.

Some of the exercises are designed to get your hand and fingers working in ways that are similar to your work tasks and daily activities. The goal of the therapist is to help you keep the pain under control, improve your strength and the range of motion as well as regain the fine motor abilities with your fingers and hand. The regular visit to a therapist’s office will end when you are well underway.

Why Choose Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India for Finger joint replacement surgery?

Since this involves a critical part of our body, choosing a top notch hospital would be the definite way to move forward. This brings us to the fundamental question on what are the advantages of choosing a good hospital. There are quite a few of them, but the expertise of skilled surgeons, superior support staff, state of the art facilities in terms of infrastructure are a few of them. In addition to this, English being the preferred mode of communication eradicates the communication barrier.

So, is there a hospital in the country which has all the above mentioned facilities. They have established their base in the city of Nagpur which belongs to the central portion of India. A visit to the hospital itself says a thing or two about the hospital. Their philosophy is simple and that is to provide quality health care at cost effective solutions to the patients.

All the operation theatres of the hospital are modelled as per the standards prescribed by the WHO and special attention is paid to the welfare and the safety of the patients. On the safety front there is a fire fighting system along with splinkers for the benefits of the patients. All the reputed surgeons in the country are part of their set up and the credentials of them are a testimony to the fact. They have hands on experience in performing several successful surgeries and their expertise is a sort out in various international conferences.

The buzz in the medical world is that any part of a joint can be replaced by an effective implant procedure. Most of the masses are well acquainted with hip, but Finger Joint Replacement Surgery is the newest craze in the medical world. It eradicates discomfort to a larger level and is more suitable for the older age group as compared to the younger lot. For the surgery to be performed the joints of the finger should be stable and have mobility. If these conditions are fulfilled, then only the surgery can be considered.

Though there are zero waiting lists in the hospital, it is recommended that the international patients book their surgery schedule in order to have any hassles in their medical journey. For this they can contact us via email or the phone numbers on the website and schedule their day in advance. In terms of payment, at least 30 % of the cost of surgery should be paid before flying down for the surgery and the outstanding can be cleared after coming down to the country.

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What is Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty?

The arthroscopic Acrominoplasty is a surgical procedure in order to remove the acromion. This essentially means that a small part of the surface of the bone is removed is called as the acromion which remains in contact with the tendon. This small growth causes friction and in turn damage to the tendon. The procedure of Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty in India has become popular over a period of time. This type of surgery is most preferred for the shoulder pain and shoulder replacement. The patient can get Low cost Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty in India.

How do I know if I am a good candidate for Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty Procedure?

When we see the Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty in India reviews you would understand that the shoulder pain is common among those who have chronic arthritis. Those who have suffered an injury also face the problem of pain in the shoulders. In most of the cases the major cause of chronic pain arthritis. The shoulder consists of a ball and a socket in the joint. The hip replacement and knee replacement are very well known surgeries among all of us. In the recent studies the experts have found that there is a positive possibility of getting the shoulder replacement surgery done in order to relieve them from the shoulder pain. The patients who suffer from chronic shoulder pain should go for the replacement surgery by keeping various facts in mind.

Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty Procedure & Recovery & Effectiveness

The shoulder replacement surgery is the procedure of getting the bone and socket of the shoulder replaced. This is done with the help of plastic and metal implants. The surgery is done in order to improve the movement of the shoulders and to ease the pain in the shoulders. For the shoulder surgery, which involves the surrounding muscles and tendons; such as torn muscle tissues then the most recommended surgery is the shoulder arthroscopy. This type of surgery does not call for open surgery, but in the patients where the total replacement surgery is required it has to be an open surgery.

In the shoulder replacement surgery the patient is given the anesthesia. The anesthesia is either a general anesthesia or a regional anesthesia along with the interscalene block. Even before the operation begins the patient is under sedation and practically unconscious. The person is made to sit in the beach chair position in order to start the operation.

Why Opting Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty is necessary?

There are various symptoms which indicate that replacement surgery has become vital for the patient. When the shoulder has a limited flexibility and very less of a movement then there is an urgent need of getting the shoulder replaced. In case there is swelling in the joints of the shoulders it is time to have a replacement surgery. Whenever a person does any activity and experiences a pain while doing so or are not able to do proper movements with their shoulders; the patients who get a feeling of grinding or catchy pain in the shoulder; these are some of the major symptoms which hints that a surgery is vital.

Why to choose an Indian Hospital for your Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty?

You should choose Indian hospitals because you can get Affordable Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty in India besides this you can also get a Free Consultation Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty in India – you get complete knowledge and details about this type of surgery.

Arthroscopic Acrominoplasty Cost in India

The cost of the arthroscopic Acrominoplasty is very less in India as compared to other countries.

Shoulder Arthroscopy Introduction

Shoulder Arthroscopy

Shoulder arthroscopy is surgery that uses a tiny camera called an arthroscope to examine or repair the tissues inside or around your shoulder joint. The arthroscope is inserted through a small incision (cut) in your skin.

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that cover your shoulder joint. These muscles and tendons hold your arm in your ball and socket shoulder joint, and they help you move your shoulder in different directions. The tendons in the rotator cuff can tear when they are overused or injured.

Most people receive general anesthesia before this surgery. This means you will be unconscious and unable to feel pain. Or, you may have regional anesthesia. Your arm and shoulder area will be numbed so that you do not feel any pain in this area. If you receive regional anesthesia, you will also be given medicine to make you very sleepy during the operation.

First, your surgeon will examine your shoulder with the arthroscope. Your surgeon will:

• Insert the arthroscope into your shoulder through a small incision. The arthroscope is connected to a video monitor in the operating room.
• Inspect all the tissues of your shoulder joint and the area above the joint — the cartilage, bones, tendons, and ligaments.
• Repair any damaged tissues. To do this, your surgeon will make 1 to 3 smaller incisions and insert other instruments through them. A tear in a muscle, tendon, or cartilage will be fixed. Damaged tissue may need to be removed.

Your surgeon may do one or more of these procedures during your surgery:

• Rotator cuff repair: The edges of the muscles are brought together. The tendon is attached to the bone with sutures. Small rivets (called suture anchors) are often used to help attach the tendon to the bone. The anchors can be made of metal or plastic. They do not need to be removed after surgery.
• Surgery for impingement syndrome: Damaged or inflamed tissue is cleaned out in the area above the shoulder joint itself. Your surgeon may also cut a specific ligament, called the coracoacromial ligament, and shave off the under part of a bone. This under part of the bone is called the acromion. The spur can be a cause of inflammation and pain in your shoulder.

• Surgery for shoulder instability: If you have a torn labrum, the rim of the shoulder joint that is made out of cartilage, your surgeon will repair it. Ligaments that attach to this area will also be repaired. The Bankart lesion is a tear on the labrum in the lower part of the shoulder joint. A SLAP lesion involves the labrum and the ligament on the top part of the shoulder joint.

At the end of the surgery using the arthroscope, your incisions will be closed with stitches and covered with a dressing (bandage). Most surgeons take pictures from the video monitor during the procedure to show you what they found and what repairs they made.

Your surgeon may need to do open surgery if there is a lot of damage. Open surgery means you will have a large incision so that the surgeon can get directly to your bones and tissues. Open surgery is a more complicated surgery.

Why the procedure is performed?

Arthroscopy may be recommended for these shoulder problems:

• A torn or damaged cartilage ring (labrum) or ligaments
• Shoulder instability, where the shoulder joint is loose and slides around too much or becomes dislocated (slips out of the ball and socket joint)
• A torn or damaged biceps tendon
• A torn rotator cuff
• A bone spur or inflammation around the rotator cuff
• Inflammation or damaged lining of the joint. Often this is caused by an illness, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• Arthritis of the end of the clavicle (collarbone)
• Loose tissue needs to be removed
• Shoulder impingement syndrome, to make more room for the shoulder to move around

Before the procedure-

Always tell your health care provider what drugs you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription. During the 2 weeks before your surgery:

• Two weeks before surgery you may be asked to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), and other drugs.
• Ask your health care provider which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.
• If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon will ask you to see your doctor who treats you for these conditions.
• Tell your health care provider if you have been drinking a lot of alcohol, more than 1 or 2 drinks a day.
• If you smoke, try to stop. Ask your health care provider or nurse for help. Smoking can slow down wound and bone healing.
• Always let your doctor know about any cold, flu, fever, herpes breakout, or other illness you may have before your surgery.

On the day of your surgery-

• You will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything for 6 to 12 hours before the procedure.
• Take your drugs your health care provider told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Your health care provider will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

After the procedure-

Recovery can take anywhere from 1 to 6 months. You will probably have to wear a sling for the first week. If you had a lot of repair done, you may have to wear the sling longer.

You may take medicine to control your pain.

When you can return to work or play sports will depend on what your surgery involved. It can range from 1 week to several months.

For many procedures, especially if a repair is performed, physical therapy may help you regain motion and strength in your shoulder. The length of therapy will depend on the repair that was done.

Operation-

You will have a general anaesthetic, and will be asleep for the whole operation.

The arthroscope is a telescope about as wide as a pen, connected to a television. The operation is called an arthroscopy.

The surgeon will insert the arthroscope through one or two tiny half inch (about 1.2cm) cuts around your shoulder. He will use it to look at the inside of your shoulder and the tendons over the shoulder. The cuts will be closed with stitches, clips, or paper tapes. You will be in hospital for one night or so after the operation.

At home-

You cannot drive whilst your arm is in a sling. If you were driving before the arthroscopy, you will be able to drive within a few days of leaving hospital.

How soon you can return to work depends on your job. If you are working now, you should be able to return to work 7 to 10 days after your operation.

Recovery from shoulder arthroscopy-

The recovery depends on what type of surgery is performed. One of the problems with shoulder arthroscopy is that the procedure hurts much less than open shoulder surgery, and therefore patients may tend to do too much, too soon. It is very important that you only perform activities that your surgeon recommends following a shoulder arthroscopy. Even though your shoulder may feel fine, you need to allow time for repaired tissues to adequately heal. This is especially important for patients who have rotator cuff repairs and labral repairs.

Why Choose Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India for Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery?

Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India offers highest quality bone and joint health care with attentiveness, care and compassion to meet the needs of the patients and their loved ones. The medical team includes board-certified orthopedic surgeons who are familiar with all the aspects of the musculoskeletal system. Our hospital uses the most advanced technologies available for the orthopaedic procedures and has a lower complication rate.

Our surgical unit is integrated with an onsite musculoskeltal ultrasnonography facility with very high diagnostic accuracy and it also comprises one of the finest shoulder rehab center. Th rehab compliments our surgical efforts to provide one of the most consistent and impressive results. We offer highly effective arthroscopic shoulder surgery at the most affordable prices. Many international patients have undergone their arthroscopic shoulder surgery in India due to reasonable rates.

Planning your medical trip to India is a very simple process with Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India

1. You just need to fill in our enquiry form and one of our executives will contact you soon.
2. +91-9860432255  Call us at the given contact number for any assistance.
3. Complete information regarding surgery is provided on our website.

Click to Here Fill up our Enquiry Form

Shoulder Arthroscopy Introduction

Shoulder arthroscopy is surgery that uses a tiny camera called an arthroscope to examine or repair the tissues inside or around your shoulder joint. The arthroscope is inserted through a small incision (cut) in your skin.

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that cover your shoulder joint. These muscles and tendons hold your arm in your ball and socket shoulder joint, and they help you move your shoulder in different directions. The tendons in the rotator cuff can tear when they are overused or injured.

Most people receive general anesthesia before this surgery. This means you will be unconscious and unable to feel pain. Or, you may have regional anesthesia. Your arm and shoulder area will be numbed so that you do not feel any pain in this area. If you receive regional anesthesia, you will also be given medicine to make you very sleepy during the operation.

First, your surgeon will examine your shoulder with the arthroscope. Your surgeon will:

• Insert the arthroscope into your shoulder through a small incision. The arthroscope is connected to a video monitor in the operating room.
• Inspect all the tissues of your shoulder joint and the area above the joint — the cartilage, bones, tendons, and ligaments.
• Repair any damaged tissues. To do this, your surgeon will make 1 to 3 smaller incisions and insert other instruments through them. A tear in a muscle, tendon, or cartilage will be fixed. Damaged tissue may need to be removed.

Your surgeon may do one or more of these procedures during your surgery:

• Rotator cuff repair: The edges of the muscles are brought together. The tendon is attached to the bone with sutures. Small rivets (called suture anchors) are often used to help attach the tendon to the bone. The anchors can be made of metal or plastic. They do not need to be removed after surgery.
• Surgery for impingement syndrome: Damaged or inflamed tissue is cleaned out in the area above the shoulder joint itself. Your surgeon may also cut a specific ligament, called the coracoacromial ligament, and shave off the under part of a bone. This under part of the bone is called the acromion. The spur can be a cause of inflammation and pain in your shoulder.
• Surgery for shoulder instability: If you have a torn labrum, the rim of the shoulder joint that is made out of cartilage, your surgeon will repair it. Ligaments that attach to this area will also be repaired. The Bankart lesion is a tear on the labrum in the lower part of the shoulder joint. A SLAP lesion involves the labrum and the ligament on the top part of the shoulder joint.

At the end of the surgery using the arthroscope, your incisions will be closed with stitches and covered with a dressing (bandage). Most surgeons take pictures from the video monitor during the procedure to show you what they found and what repairs they made.

Your surgeon may need to do open surgery if there is a lot of damage. Open surgery means you will have a large incision so that the surgeon can get directly to your bones and tissues. Open surgery is a more complicated surgery.

Why the procedure is performed?

Arthroscopy may be recommended for these shoulder problems:

• A torn or damaged cartilage ring (labrum) or ligaments
• Shoulder instability, where the shoulder joint is loose and slides around too much or becomes dislocated (slips out of the ball and socket joint)
• A torn or damaged biceps tendon
• A torn rotator cuff
• A bone spur or inflammation around the rotator cuff
• Inflammation or damaged lining of the joint. Often this is caused by an illness, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• Arthritis of the end of the clavicle (collarbone)
• Loose tissue needs to be removed
• Shoulder impingement syndrome, to make more room for the shoulder to move around

Before the procedure

Always tell your health care provider what drugs you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription. During the 2 weeks before your surgery:

• Two weeks before surgery you may be asked to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), and other drugs.
• Ask your health care provider which drugs you should still take on the day of your surgery.
• If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other medical conditions, your surgeon will ask you to see your doctor who treats you for these conditions.
• Tell your health care provider if you have been drinking a lot of alcohol, more than 1 or 2 drinks a day.
• If you smoke, try to stop. Ask your health care provider or nurse for help. Smoking can slow down wound and bone healing.
• Always let your doctor know about any cold, flu, fever, herpes breakout, or other illness you may have before your surgery.

On the day of your surgery

• You will usually be asked not to drink or eat anything for 6 to 12 hours before the procedure.
• Take your drugs your health care provider told you to take with a small sip of water.
• Your health care provider will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.

After the procedure

Recovery can take anywhere from 1 to 6 months. You will probably have to wear a sling for the first week. If you had a lot of repair done, you may have to wear the sling longer.

You may take medicine to control your pain.

When you can return to work or play sports will depend on what your surgery involved. It can range from 1 week to several months.

For many procedures, especially if a repair is performed, physical therapy may help you regain motion and strength in your shoulder. The length of therapy will depend on the repair that was done.

Operation

You will have a general anaesthetic, and will be asleep for the whole operation.

The arthroscope is a telescope about as wide as a pen, connected to a television. The operation is called an arthroscopy.

The surgeon will insert the arthroscope through one or two tiny half inch (about 1.2cm) cuts around your shoulder. He will use it to look at the inside of your shoulder and the tendons over the shoulder. The cuts will be closed with stitches, clips, or paper tapes. You will be in hospital for one night or so after the operation.

At home

You cannot drive whilst your arm is in a sling. If you were driving before the arthroscopy, you will be able to drive within a few days of leaving hospital.

How soon you can return to work depends on your job. If you are working now, you should be able to return to work 7 to 10 days after your operation.

Recovery from shoulder arthroscopy

The recovery depends on what type of surgery is performed. One of the problems with shoulder arthroscopy is that the procedure hurts much less than open shoulder surgery, and therefore patients may tend to do too much, too soon. It is very important that you only perform activities that your surgeon recommends following a shoulder arthroscopy. Even though your shoulder may feel fine, you need to allow time for repaired tissues to adequately heal. This is especially important for patients who have rotator cuff repairs and labral repairs.

Why Choose Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India for Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery?

Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India offers highest quality bone and joint health care with attentiveness, care and compassion to meet the needs of the patients and their loved ones. The medical team includes board-certified orthopedic surgeons who are familiar with all the aspects of the musculoskeletal system. Our hospital uses the most advanced technologies available for the orthopaedic procedures and has a lower complication rate.

Our surgical unit is integrated with an onsite musculoskeltal ultrasnonography facility with very high diagnostic accuracy and it also comprises one of the finest shoulder rehab center. Th rehab compliments our surgical efforts to provide one of the most consistent and impressive results. We offer highly effective arthroscopic shoulder surgery at the most affordable prices. Many international patients have undergone their arthroscopic shoulder surgery in India due to reasonable rates.

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Introduction

The term “rotator cuff”refers to a group of four tendons that attach four shoulder muscles to the upper arm. Tendons are stringy tissues that attach muscle to bone.

A healthy shoulder is the most versatile joint in the human body. It has a wider “range of motion,” which means it can move more freely, and in more directions, than any other joint. The shoulder’s versatility enables us to retrieve soup cans from the cupboard, to hammer nails, swing golf clubs, roll bowling balls, and perform thousands of other activities.

The shoulder’s flexibility is due to its unique structure. Like the hip, the shoulder is a “ball-and-socket” joint – a “ball” at the top of the upper arm bone (the humerus) fits neatly into a “socket” formed by the shoulder blade (scapula).

But unlike hip joints, where the ball sits in a deep, well-protected socket, the shoulder socket is very shallow. As a result, the shoulder is the most frequently dislocated major joint in the body. It’s also prone to a variety of other injuries and chronic problems that can be painful and hinder a person’s ability to perform ordinary tasks.

Why it is done?

Surgery to repair a rotator cuff is done when:

• A rotator cuff tear is caused by a sudden injury. In these cases, it’s best to do surgery soon after the injury.
• A complete rotator cuff tear causes severe shoulder weakness.
• The rotator cuff has failed to improve with 3 to 6 months of conservative nonsurgical treatment alone (such as physical therapy).
• You need full shoulder strength and function for your job or activities, or you are young.
• You are in good enough physical condition to recover from surgery and will commit to completing a program of physical rehabilitation.

What to expect after surgery?

Discomfort after surgery may decrease with taking pain medicines prescribed by your doctor. The arm will be protected in a sling for a defined period of time, especially when at risk of additional injury. Physical therapy after surgery is crucial to a successful recovery. A rehabilitation program may include the following:

• As soon as you awake from anesthesia, you may start doing exercises that flex and extend the elbow, wrist, and hand.
• The day after surgery, if your doctor allows, passive exercises that move your arm may be done about 3 times a day (a machine or physical therapist may help the joint through its range of motion).
• Active exercise (you move your arm yourself) and stretches, with the assistance of a physical therapist, may start 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. This depends on how bad your tear was and how complex the surgical repair was.
• Strengthening exercises, beginning with light weights and progressing to heavier weights, can start a few months after surgery.

Candidates for rotator cuff repair surgery

• Persons who have tears to the rotator cuff tendon that don’t respond to treatment are candidates for surgery.
• Surgery is usually needed if there is a complete tear in the tendon.
• A complete tear results in a person being unable to raise the arm. Surgery may also be needed for a partial tear of the tendon, if the tear causes continued pain and weakness.
• In a complete tear, repair is usually done within 3 months of the injury.
• There are two typical types of people who suffer from a rotator cuff tear.
• Younger, athletic people often have an injury that tears the rotator cuff. Middle-aged or elderly people usually have repeated stress of the shoulder muscles over time that eventually causes the tendon to tear.

Advantages of rotator cuff repair surgery

• When combined with a good rehabilitation effort, rotator cuff surgery allows people to regain much of the lost comfort and function in shoulders with cuff disease.
• If the quantity and quality of the tissue is good, surgery can help repair the tendon back to the bone from which it has been torn. This is most likely to succeed, soon after a cuff tear in otherwise healthy shoulders of non-smokers who have not had multiple cortisone injections.
• Rotator cuff surgery will improve the mechanics of the shoulder.
• When performed by an experienced surgeon, rotator cuff surgery usually leads to improved shoulder comfort and function.
• The greatest improvements are in the ability of the patient to sleep, perform activities of daily living, and engage in non-contact recreational activities.

Symptoms

An acute rotator cuff tear as a result of trauma can occur on its own or in conjunction with another shoulder injury, such as a fracture or dislocation. An acute tear usually causes a sharp pain in the front of the shoulder that radiates down the side of the arm.

Rotator cuff tears caused by repetitive overhead activity or by wear and degeneration of the tendon usually have a more gradual onset of symptoms. In such cases, the pain may at first be mild and only present with overhead activities such as reaching or lifting, but as time passes, pain may result from little or no stressful activity at all, including just lying in bed on the affected side at night. Stiffness and loss of motion are also common, making it difficult to perform simple daily tasks such as combing your hair or twisting your arm behind your back to fasten a button on a blouse, or reaching up to adjust a hat or the hood of a coat.

Some of the signs of a rotator cuff tear include thinning (atrophy) of the shoulder muscles and pain or weakness when you lift your arm or when you lower it from a fully raised position. There may also be a crackling sensation (crepitus) when the shoulder is moved in certain ways.

Why the procedure is performed?

Reasons rotator cuff repair may be done include:

• You have shoulder pain when you rest or at night, and it has not improved with exercises over 6 – 12 months.
• You have a large or a complete rotator cuff tear.
• You are active and use your shoulder for sports or work.
• You have a lot of weakness and are unable to do everyday activities.

Surgery is a good choice in a person whose tear was caused by a recent injury. It is also a good choice when the tendons of the rotator cuff were not already frayed from chronic rotator cuff problems.

Some patients with a partial tear may choose not to have surgery, using rest and exercise instead. The best candidates for this approach are those who have only a partial tear and do not place a lot of demand on their shoulder.

• Shoulder pain will improve with this approach.
• However, any weakness will not improve, the tear become larger over time, and you may be limited in the sports or other act ivies you can do.

Diagnosis

Despite all the clues, diagnosing a rotator cuff tear isn’t always easy, because a number of conditions in the bones and soft tissues of the shoulder can present with similar symptoms, and a number of tests may be required for a conclusive diagnosis. A doctor will begin by taking the medical history, and then perform a physical examination, looking for tender areas, deformity, and restrictions in strength and motion. The physician may also examine the patient’s neck to ensure a “pinched nerve” in the cervical spine isn’t the pain source and to rule out other conditions, such as osteo- or rheumatoid arthritis.

Beyond that, he or she may request imaging tests, usually beginning with x-rays. Other tests may be ordered, including an ultrasound or a CT scan (computerized tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), all of which can better visualize soft tissue structures such as the rotator cuff tendon.

An MRI is the gold standard, since it can even distinguish between a complete (full thickness) tear of the tendon and a partial tear, and whether the tear is within the tendon itself, or if the tendon is detached from the bone.

Rotator cuff surgery

During rotator cuff surgery, the patient is put in a half-sitting position, with the head supported. Most operations are performed under general anesthesia, where the patient is asleep. Sometimes a regional (or local) anesthetic is used to block the nerves leading to the arm. In that case, the patient is conscious but cannot feel pain. Usually a sedative is also given, putting the patient in a conscious but dreamy state. Rotator cuff surgery usually takes one to two hours.

Types of procedures include:

1. Open Surgical Rotator Cuff Repair: Prior to the development of arthroscopic surgery, all rotator cuff tears were repaired by looking directly at the torn tendon through an incision about 6 to 10 centimeters in length. The advantage of open rotator cuff repairs is the rotator cuff tendons are easily seen by this method. It is straightforward to repair the tendons down to the bone, and many surgeons find this a more secure repair. The downside is that the incision is large, and the recovery can be longer and more painful.
2. Mini-Open Rotator Cuff Repair: The mini-open method of repairing a rotator cuff involves an arthroscopic portion of the surgery, and a short incision to get direct access to the torn rotator cuff tendon. By using the arthroscope, the surgeon can also look into the shoulder joint to clean out any damaged tissue or bone spurs. Preparation for the rotator cuff repair can be performed arthroscopically. Once the arthroscopic portion is complete, a shorter incision is made to repair the tendon back to the bone. The incision used in a mini-open rotator cuff repair is about 3 cm, and the recovery may be less painful than the open cuff repair.
3. All-Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: An arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is done through small incisions, and the repair is done with the surgeon looking through a small camera to see the torn rotator cuff tendons and their repair on a television monitor. This is a more recent development in the treatment of rotator cuff tears, and not all types of tears can be treated by this method. Furthermore, arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs can be technically difficult and require experience in this method of repair. Not all surgeons are convinced the repair done arthroscopically is as strong as repair done through an open incision.
4. Shoulder Replacement Surgery: In large rotator cuff tears that have been neglected for a number of years, the cartilage of the shoulder joint may eventually wear out. This is a problem called rotator cuff tear arthropathy, and is a dual problem of shoulder arthritis and a large rotator cuff tear. Because the rotator cuff is no longer intact, a standard shoulder replacement is usually not adequate. Special implants help accommodate for the fact that the rotator cuff does not work normally. One of these special implants is called a reverse shoulder replacement.

Rehabilitation

After surgery, the arm is immobilized to allow the tear to heal. The length of immobilization depends upon the severity of the tear. You will be given an exercise program to help regain motion and strength in the shoulder. This begins with passive motion. It advances to active and resistive exercises. Your orthopaedic surgeon may recommend that you work with a physiotherapist. Complete recovery will take at least several months.

After surgery, the patient is taken to a recovery room for an hour or two. The injured arm is kept in a sling, often with a pillow behind the elbow. Patients initially drink only clear liquids before eating regular food. Ice is applied to the shoulder for comfort. Patients are encouraged to get out of bed with the arm in a sling. The sling can usually be released, but not removed, allowing the elbow to straighten without moving the shoulder. Patients who had open surgery usually stay in the hospital for a day or two. Patients who had arthroscopic surgery can often return home on the same day.

A strong commitment to rehabilitation is important to achieve a good surgical outcome. The doctor will advise you when it is safe to return to overhead work and sports activity.

Why Choose Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India for Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery?

Joint Replacement Surgery Hospital India offers highest quality bone and joint health care with attentiveness, care and compassion to meet the needs of the patients and their loved ones. The medical team includes board-certified orthopedic surgeons who are familiar with all the aspects of the musculoskeletal system. Our hospital uses the most advanced technologies available for the orthopaedic procedures and has a lower complication rate.

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