Arthoscopic Suture of the Rotator Cuff
When to do it?
- Acute ruptures
- It is the treatment of choice: most studies show that in acute ruptures, surgical treatment is superior to conservative treatment.
- Degenerative Tears
- In young and active patients
- In older patients, but without response to conservative treatment for a minimum period of 3 months.
Procedimento
Procedure
- Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure in which a lens/camera is used to observe the entire shoulder joint and in which, through other small incisions, work instruments and suture anchors are introduced to allow the repair of the tendon or tendons.
- To suture the rotator cuff tendons, anchors with suture threads are generally used to allow the tendon to be fixed back to the bone. The anchors are firmly attached to the bone and are completely covered, and the suture threads are made of non-absorbable material to allow for a “stronger” fixation of the tendon.
- This technique allows the patient to be discharged the same day or to spend just one night in the hospital .
Postoperative
Postoperative
- The shoulder is immobilized with a brachial suspensory which reduces pain related to the procedure as well as protecting the tendon repair.
- The patient can begin passive and pendular movements immediately after surgery, properly supervised by a therapist.
- It takes between 6 to 8 weeks for the tendon to heal.
- Physiotherapy: physiotherapy is necessary for an average period of 6 months, but the recovery time depends on the size of the tear; in small tears a shorter recovery of up to 4 months can be expected, while in a large tear the recovery time can range from 6 months to 1 year.