Patients from 105+ countries have trusted us
Join hundreds of happy patients who choose the right treatment and care.
Get A Quote
A group of tendons and muscles (known as the rotator cuff) surrounds the shoulder joint area, which helps to stabilise the upper arm bone (humerus) if it is within its normal position (shallow) in the shoulder joint. Injuries to the rotator cuff can cause a dull aching sensation in the shoulder that tends to become more pronounced and painful during nighttime hours.
Repetitive motion injuries to the rotator cuff are common and occur more frequently as we age. In addition, some workers who are required to perform repetitive overhead-type work will typically have injuries to the rotator cuff earlier than an individual who does not have to perform these types of motions on a regular basis. Examples of jobs that require many repetitive overhead motions are painters and carpenters.
Rotation exercises can be performed to help increase strength and flexibility in the shoulder. For the vast majority of individuals who have developed rotator cuff injury(s), performing rotated exercise(s) is sufficient enough to allow them to perform activities of daily living without limitations due to their rotator cuff injury.
At times, a rotator cuff tear (injury) can occur from a singular injury; therefore, it is important for individuals who experience this type of injury to seek medical advice as soon as possible, as they may be required to undergo surgical intervention.
What Is The Rotator Cuff?
Muscles and tendons form a rotator cuff at each shoulder joint.
There is only one rotator cuff for each shoulder. It attaches the shoulder blade (scapula) to the arm bone (humerus) of the upper arm. You will use the rotator cuff to raise your arm above the head (overhead) and to rotate your arms towards/away from the body.
Rotator cuff injuries occur frequently, particularly for (but not only) athletes. Make an appointment with a healthcare professional if you have shoulder pain, arm weakness, or if you are unable to move your arm due to pain.
What Does The Rotator Cuff Do?
The rotator cuff helps you keep stability in the shoulder and upper arm as you move and perform activities. As you may have guessed from its name, it is also responsible for turning and rotating the shoulder.
The rotator cuff consists of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint and keep two bones joined. The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint whereby the upper end of the humerus (the head) fits into a socket in the scapula, similar to how a golf ball sits on a tee.
Types of Rotator Cuff Injury
There are two primary categories of torn rotator cuffs; each type offers unique features and consequences.
Partial Tear
A partial tear of the rotator cuff occurs when the shoulder muscle tendons connect to the arm bone at the time of injury, and still remain partially attached to the bone, although sustaining damage to some degree by not separating completely from the bone.
Complete Tear
Complete tears, also called "full thickness" establish that all portions of the tendon at that point of injury no longer connect to bone; therefore, there is a hole/rip in the tendon and creates a greater level of injury resulting in a more serious and disabling condition.
Types of Rotator Cuff Repair
Rotator cuff repair can be done using different techniques, sort of depending on what kind of tear is there and what the patient actually needs, not just what looks bad on an image. There are really two main routes people use.
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
This is the more minimally invasive method. Small incisions are made around the shoulder, and an arthroscope—a camera of sorts—guides everything during the procedure. The surgeon can actually visualise the tear, then use specialised tools to reconnect the tendon to the bone. In many situations, this approach leads to less postoperative pain, less scarring, and a faster return to daily activity compared with open surgery. It’s kind of the “quiet” option, at least in how the tissues are approached.
Open Rotator Cuff Repair
When the tear is pretty extensive or when it’s more involved in a complex way, an open approach may be needed. This means a larger incision so the surgeon gets direct access to the shoulder joint. Yes, this can mean more discomfort after surgery and a longer recovery, but it also allows for a more thorough inspection and a broader repair plan for the shoulder structures. Sometimes you just need that kind of hands-on view, even if it takes more time upfront.
Preparing for rotator cuff repair surgery means making sure you are ready both physically and mentally for this operation. The list below will help you get the right frame of mind, as well as prepare physically at the same time, so that you are "up to speed" before the surgery even takes place.
Discussing the Operation with Your Doctor: A few days or weeks before your operation, you will discuss your medical history, current medications, and any worries about the operation you may have.
Getting Checked: To plan surgery, your surgeon might want to do some tests. X-rays, MRI, and blood panels are standard. Diagnosis confirmation, as well as surgical planning, is possible through these tests.
Medication Management: List all the medications you're currently taking on your surgical consultation sheet. Your doctor should be aware of any blood thinners you are on and may have you stop taking them for a while so that the chance of bleeding is minimised.
Lifestyle Changes: Smoking is a very bad habit, so surgeons always advise stopping smoking at least a few weeks before surgery. Eating proper meals and doing some light exercise are other ways of preparing your body for surgery and a speedy recovery after it.
Planning for Helping Hands: Recovery at home is going to take some time, and you need help; therefore, it is wise to arrange for family members or friends to come to your aid and help you with the changing requirements of each day post-op.
Learn the Details of the Surgery: Get acquainted with the surgical procedure as well as the anesthesia choices. Understanding the whole process, including how long it will last, will help ease your mind and assist in mental preparation.
Facilitating Recovery at Home: In order for you to have an easy time painting and healing, keep your home free of anything that could cause you to fall or bump into. Besides that, making a nice little spot for you to recuperate with all the necessary comfort items, i.e., pillows, ice packs, and ointments, is a good idea as well.
Adhere to Surgical Guidelines: Your surgeon will provide you with the guidelines which you should adhere to in the days leading up to the day of your operation, like what and when to eat and drink, whether and when to take a bath or shower, etc.
Rotator Cuff Repair: Step-by-Step Procedure
Any worry you may have regarding the procedure can be reduced by being aware of the precise steps involved in rotator cuff repair. This is what usually occurs prior to, during, and following the procedure.
Before the Procedure:
Date of Procedure: When you go to surgery, you will arrive at either a surgical centre or a hospital to check in. However, once checked in, you may be asked to change out of your clothes into a hospital gown.
Anaesthesia: The Anesthesiologist will meet with you and will explain the types of anaesthesia that can be used. In most cases of rotator cuff repair, general anesthesia is used. Regional is also utilised but less frequently.
Positioning: After you have been given anaesthesia, you will be positioned on the operating table, usually on your back and with your arm positioned for surgeons to have full access to your shoulder.
During the Procedure:
Incision: The surgeon makes a cut at the location of the injured rotator cuff on the patient's shoulder. This cut may be either open or small, depending on what procedure is to be performed for the repair of the torn tendons (i.e. arthroscopy will require much smaller incisions than an Open Surgical procedure).
Accessing the Rotator Cuff: If an arthroscopic technique is used, a camera will be inserted through the incision to allow the surgeon to see the rotator cuff and adjacent structures clearly prior to making any repairs.
Repairing the Tear: The surgeon will determine the best way to repair the tear after evaluating the situation. The repair will involve re-anchoring the torn tendon to the bone with either sutures or anchors. Some cases may require trimming of parts of the tissue to allow for proper healing.
Closing the Incision: Once the repair has been made, the surgeon will close the incision using either sutures or staples. Once the incision is closed, a sterile dressing may be placed over the incision; however, the decision will depend on the surgical procedure and/or the physician.
After the Procedure:
Recovery Room: Following your surgery, you will be moved into a recovery room where you will be monitored by medical staff while you are coming out of your anesthetic effects and recovering.
Pain Management: At the beginning of pain management, you will receive medication to relieve your discomfort.
Immobilisation of The Arm: You will likely have your arm placed in a sling or immobilisation device for protection of your shoulder so that healing can occur; instructions for how to care for your shoulder and when to begin gentle movements will be provided.
Follow-Up Appointments: You will have follow-up appointments scheduled to monitor and evaluate your recovery, and potentially, to recommend rehab to improve your strength and range of motion.
The cost of Shoulder Tendon Repair for the Rotator Cuff in India usually sits somewhere around USD 2000 - USD 5500, though it can shift a bit.
That said, the final amount depends on a bunch of things like how bad the injury or condition is, what exact approach the doctors recommend, and even where the hospital or clinic is, plus their general standing. Also, the treating professionals' know-how and specialisation can make a difference, along with the patient’s overall health status at the time of treatment.
On top of that, things such as how long the full plan takes, whether follow-up care is needed, and if advanced tech is used or specialised treatment options are involved can further move the total cost up or down.
Why is Rotator Cuff Repair Done?
A rotator cuff repair may be recommended for rotator cuff injury symptoms or conditions. Common reasons for recommending a rotator cuff repair are listed below:
Persistent Shoulder Pain: Chronic shoulder pain may occur that worsens with activity or at night. This can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life.
Arm Movement Weakness: A torn rotator cuff can result in shoulder weakness that makes it hard to lift the arm or do overhead activities (for example: reaching for an object or throwing).
Limited Range of Motion: Patients may find it difficult to move their shoulder freely and may not be able to participate in their normal daily activities or sports.
Shoulder Instability: In some cases, a torn rotator cuff can create instability and make the shoulder more likely to dislocate or subluxate.
Conservative Treatment Failure: Before surgery is considered, patients usually receive conservative treatment such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and/or corticosteroid injections. If this type of treatment does not provide adequate relief, a rotator cuff repair may be necessary.
Indications for Rotator Cuff Repair
Several clinical situations and diagnostic findings can sorta point to the need for a rotator cuff repair, like they’ll need to get fixed sooner rather than later. For example:
Full-thickness tears: Patients with complete rotator cuff tendon tears are often the right kind of candidates for a surgical approach. These can show up as acute injuries, from a sudden event, or be more chronic, sort of building up gradually over time, due to wear and tear.
Large or massive tears: when the tear is larger than 3 cm, or when more than one tendon is involved, surgical repair may be suggested to help bring back shoulder motion and strength more effectively.
Partial-thickness tears with symptoms: even partial tears, if they bring severe pain, or cause noticeable limits in daily activity, might still be worth surgical consideration, especially after conservative care hasn’t worked out.
Age and level of activity: younger and more active individuals tend to have surgery performed to restore function, compared to older individuals who may have their cases reviewed based on their prior general health and what they hope to achieve through their activities.
Imaging: Any results from an MRI or ultrasound indicating that you have a rotator cuff tear with additional internal changes confirmed through imaging may be used to help make the case for proceeding with surgery.
Failure of conservative treatment: If you have previously treated your shoulder pain with physical therapy, medications or other conservative methods and do not have a reasonable amount of improvement, you will likely be referred for surgical intervention.
Acute traumatic injury: If you have suffered a traumatic injury (i.e. fall, accident) that has resulted in an immediate onset of shoulder pain and weakness, you will likely be referred for a surgical examination on an urgent basis rather than a “wait and see” basis.
Rotator cuff repair entails some risks and potential problems, just like any surgical procedure. Even though many people have positive results, it's crucial to understand the typical and uncommon hazards connected to the procedure.
Common Risks:
Pain and Discomfort: Normal post-operative pain can often be managed via medication.
Swelling and Bruising: It is typical for patients to have some swelling and/or bruising at their surgical site. This should resolve within weeks of surgery.
Infection: Infections are very rare but can still occur on your incision site; the following may indicate an infection: redness, increased swelling, increased heat, or discharge from the incision site.
Stiffness: Following surgery, patients may experience stiffness at the operated shoulder area; stiffness and range of motion will improve with physical therapy.
Less Common Risks:
Re-tear of the Rotator Cuff: In a few instances, the repaired rotator cuff tendon can result in a re-tear following surgery as a result of improper shoulder rehabilitation.
Nerve Injury: There is a very small opportunity for there to be some type of nerve damage during surgery due to the surgical procedure, which can ultimately result in weakness and/or numbness of the arm/hand after the surgical procedure.
Blood Clots: There is a possibility that a blood clot may occur after the surgical procedure in either the arm or lungs of the patient, and it is more common in patients with significant risk factors; however, it is still infrequently diagnosed.
Rare Risks:
Anesthesia complications: As with basically any operation that uses anesthesia, there are potential risks involved. These can include allergic reactions, or respiratory problems, that kind of thing.
Chronic pain: sometimes shows up later, for some patients, after the surgery is done, and then it might need extra assessment, followed by treatment.
Shoulder instability: In rare situations, it can happen too. The shoulder may end up feeling unstable post-procedure, which can contribute to dislocations or other additional injuries.
Join hundreds of happy patients who choose the right treatment and care.
Get A Quote