Rotator Cuff Injury Essay

3. If you have actually torn it you don’t have to have surgery, but if you plan on being active for the rest of your life then you will need surgery.

There are different techniques that repair a torn ACL. The popular method for surgeons is the patellar tendon graft procedure. This type of ACL replacement uses the middle third of the person’s own patellar tendon and replacing the damage tendon with it. The advantages are that the fixation is very strong and the patellar tendon replacing

Tommy John surgery is a common procedure used to repair torn rotator cuffs. Named after a former MLB player who also suffered with the injury, Tommy John surgery involves replacing the torn ligament with a healthy ligament in another area of your body.

The rotator cuff refers to the group of muscles and tendons in your shoulder that connects your shoulder blade to your upper arm.

Many major league and teenage pitchers today are requiring Tommy John surgery more than before. Tommy John surgery is named after the pitcher Tommy John, who was the first to receive this surgery. This particular arm injury is located in the elbow when the Ulnar Collateral Ligament tears. During the surgery, the UCL is reconstructed with another ligament from one’s body or a donor. Many people argue that this injury is a result of overuse/overthrowing, not giving the arm enough rest. Also, people argue that it is a result of improper throwing techniques. Both of those arguments are accurate, as they can both result in Tommy John surgery. Today in baseball, more and more people are getting arm injuries and needing Tommy

The rotator cuff is a group of 4 muscles, the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and the teres minor. These muscles helps to lift your shoulder up over your head and also rotate it toward and away from your body. Unfortunately, it is also a group of muscles that is frequently injured by tears, tendonitis, impingement, bursitis, and strains. The major muscle that is usually involved is the supraspinatus muscle. Rotator Cuff Injuries are usually broken up into the following categories.

In this video a patient is having surgery performed on rotator cuff. Usually this kind of surgery is very server to treat. In the video the surgeon inserts an instrument to see what damage is done to the knee joint. While the instrument is inserted the surgeon can monitor the scope on the T.V.Surgery is needed if the shoulder strength does not improve. In the video the instrument used is silver tube about quarter inch in length. The tube is the size of pencil that also has camera so the surgeon can see on the t.v. screen. This kind of surgery is performed under sterile condition. In the video three incisions are cut so there three incisions are only quarter inch in length. Normal saline is used to help with washing out bleeding. This type of surgery involves joints and local anesthesia to be administered. The procedure they are performing is rotator cuff surgery. Personal experience this pass December, I had to have arthroscopy surgery on my right knee I tore my meniscus.

There are a very small amount of easy treatments possible for this injury. Depending on the type of labral tear and intensity of symptoms, one may need surgery. Most tears, both shoulder and hip, do not depend upon surgery, but patients that obtain

The patient was an active participant in both contact as well as non-contact athletic activities. The patient reported occurrence of different symptoms that included; pain, weakness, instability, paresthesia, crepitus, as well as instability of the shoulder during sleep. Sulculus sign was conducted to assess the rotator interval and load and shift test for determination of the patient’s posterior stability. The doctor diagnosed positive for multidirectional instability. The patient’s multidirectional instability was not caused by a traumatic event. The patient had not exercised the joint over a long period of time, hence he had a weak shoulder joint, particularly the rotator cuff. The doctor recommended that the patient should be treated for the pain and inflammation of the shoulder caused by the multidirectional instability and then placed on physical therapy aimed for one year aimed at helping in the strengthening of the muscles of the patient that support the scapula (shoulder blade) and the rotator cuff (shoulder joint) so as to help the patient in returning to normal physical activity and also prevent an injury at the same place

As stated earlier, medical surgeries are an option, though most people prefer to avoid this option. There are many different kinds of surgery that can be done to help with R.A. including joint replacement surgery, arthroplasty, arthroscopy, carpal tunnel release, cervical spinal fusion, phalangeal head resection, and total knee replacement. All these surgeries listed might not help with R.A. and may threaten the body during surgery. Blood clots, infections, and the possibility of the surgery not working at all are potential outcomes of having surgery. According to the CDC, "around 40% of all deaths occurring in individuals with R.A. are attributable to cardiovascular causes" (CDC, 2015). Some individuals may need cardiovascular surgery. Due to the risks involved, surgery isn't the number one treatment that patients with R.A. use.

Rotator cuff surgery affects the function of the shoulder. It is very painful injury and there is loss in strength. If the rotator cuff tendon becomes inflamed or is partially torn, it can be painful and will most limit shoulder movement. This injury occurs from a sudden impact, like falling on your arm which might accrue in motocross, snowboarding, playing football, and similar collision sport. Activities that might cause overload to the tendon have a possibility to tear the tendon. Other ways a rotator cuff can tears is from old age and over use over the years.

Some doctors may recommend therapy to strengthen the muscle. If the tear does not heal on its own, repair may be necessary. Either through arthroscopic surgery or open surgery, these two surgeries will be performed to trim off the pieces of cartilage damaged by the injury.

When repairing any organ or part of the human body, it is important to know the anatomical structures that are in the area you will be working and the areas neighboring that specific area. An article I came across regarding the Suprascapular nerve caught my attention, because it is important to know the anatomical location of the Suprascapular nerve in rotator cuff repairs. The article, “Anatomical Considerations of the Suprascapular Nerve in the Rotator Cuff Repairs” by James A. Tom, Addisu Mesfin, Mitesh P. Shah, Mirta Javandel, Dan J.Lee, Douglas L. Cerynik, and Nirav H Amin, is an article that presents how to determine a safe area around the suprascapular nerve when repairing a rotator cuff.

*insert article *attachedBesides being able to see the inside of a shoulder, doctors use different physical tests to evaluate the shoulder in order to determine what type of injury and how severe an injury may be. One such test was recently developed by Dr. Carl J. Basamania at the Womack Army Medical center in Fort Bragg, N.C. The test was developed to evaluate shoulder instability in a patient. During the test the Dr. or examiner stands next to the patient who is to lay flat on his/her back. The hand of the examined should is held firmly by the examiner. The examiner then pushes against the clavicle to stabilize th scapula, while they also gently hold the pectoral muscle with their thumb in order to be able to assess relaxation. The examiner then rotates the arm form neutral to full external rotation. If the patient has AIGHL incompetence there is a lack of tightening as the arm reaches full external rotation. The test has appeared to be highly accurate and may be of value to Dr.'s and surgeons alike. After doctors have determined what type and what degree of injury a patient has sustained using various tests it is on to the next step, rehabilitation.

A SLAP tear caused by a trauma to the shoulder is a frequent cause of instability and pain, and a constant source of discomfort in performing day-to-day activities. The initial treatment of such an injury may include rest, anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections and physical therapy but, unfortunately, in some patients’ cases, conservative treatments don’t always succeed.