Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

About Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair treats a torn rotator cuff, the group of four muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder and lift the arm, which can tear suddenly from a fall or injury or gradually from age-related wear and repetitive overhead activity. Patients typically present with shoulder pain that worsens at night, weakness lifting or rotating the arm, and difficulty with overhead tasks that has not improved with rest, physiotherapy, or injections. During the procedure, the surgeon inserts an arthroscope and small instruments through a few portal incisions around the shoulder, trims any inflamed or frayed tissue, and reattaches the torn tendon edge to its original footprint on the humerus using suture anchors, restoring the tendon's pull on the bone. The operation is usually performed under regional block with sedation or general anesthesia and takes roughly one to two hours depending on tear size and complexity. Indian orthopedic and shoulder specialty units offer this technique for both partial and full-thickness tears. After surgery, the arm is protected in a sling for several weeks while the tendon heals, followed by a graduated physiotherapy program that progresses from passive motion to active strengthening exercises over a period of months.