Some physical activities in business, sports or daily life can cause shoulder problems. Rupture injuries that impair quality of life, especially in the muscle group called the rotator cuff, need to be treated without delay. Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialists shared the following information:
Rotator cuff tears, one of the most common shoulder pains over the age of 40, are more common after a certain age, as they are a problem that occurs especially in sensitive areas with poor blood flow. Especially; Young people who play sports, professional athletes such as basketball and volleyball, housewives who do overhead cleaning, and occupational groups such as shop assistants and archivists who have to constantly reach for the top shelves or cabinets due to their jobs may be at risk of rotator cuff tears.
What is a rotator cuff tear?
People who use and tire their shoulder joint excessively, such as engaging in physical activities that require frequent overhead movements, such as basketball and volleyball, routinely cleaning windows, washing cars or painting, are considered to be in the risk group for rotator cuff tear.
Situations such as excessive use of force, sudden adverse movements such as catching a falling heavy object, falling on the shoulder or receiving a blow also invite this type of tear.
After surgical treatment of rotator cuff tear, patients are usually discharged one day later. However, patients have to use an arm sling for a certain period of time (on average 6 weeks) for the stitched fibers to heal. The hanger keeps the arm at a certain angle, preventing the fiber from tearing and breaking. Afterwards, the physical therapy and rehabilitation process begins. After an average of 3 months, the patient can return to his/her daily life.
Heavy cleaning and exercise cause muscle tears
The shoulder area is a joint that has a very wide range of motion and is also difficult to stabilize. Rotator cuff muscles ensure that the shoulder blade is kept balanced in the middle of the joint during shoulder movements.
Especially for rotator cuff tears that develop over time after repetitive and long-term movements of the arm above the head level; It is frequently seen in young people who play sports, professional athletes such as basketball and volleyball, housewives who do overhead cleaning, and professional groups such as shop assistants and archive clerks who have to constantly reach for the top shelves or cabinets due to their jobs.
Typical rotator cuff tear patient group; It consists of patients who are over middle age and occasionally experience shoulder pain. These patients usually consult a doctor with complaints of pain and inability to lift their arms after lifting a heavy load or straining their shoulders.
Rotator cuff tears are usually treated surgically
The physical examination performed by the doctor is very important in diagnosing the disease. Based on the findings from the physical examination, the physician performs an MRI evaluation, then clarifies the diagnosis and plans the treatment of the disease according to the type of tear. Ruptures are divided into two groups: partial (half rupture) or total rupture (complete rupture). While tears in the partial rupture group respond well to non-surgical treatment options; In such tears, rest, use of an arm sling, anti-inflammatory drug treatment, steroid (cortisone) injections, physical therapy and rehabilitation are beneficial. Surgical treatments are recommended for tears in the total rupture group.
Due to today’s technological developments, rotator cuff tears are generally treated with closed arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic surgery offers a technique that allows surgery to be performed through small incisions and causes less damage to the surrounding muscles. In this way, the patient can feel less pain after surgery compared to open methods, can be rehabilitated faster and more comfortably, and can return to daily life in a shorter time.
The surgery begins by making small incisions in the shoulder joint area, approximately 1 cm in diameter, and entering the shoulder joint with the help of special tools and a camera. After the degenerative areas in the tear are cleaned, if there are any bone protrusions that caused this tear, they are all filed down and corrected. Then, screws, usually 5 mm in diameter, with threads behind them, are placed through special cannulas into the bone prominence where the tear occurs. The threads behind these screws are passed through the torn tendon (tendon) with special tools and techniques, and the torn beam is fixed to the bone again.
References:
- OrthoInfo American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- National Library of Medicine – Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia