Rotator cuff is an important muscle and tendon group in the shoulder region that helps in keeping the arm and the shoulder in place.
It may get torn due to wear and tear.
Athletes, workers, and aged people using the shoulder and arms for frequent heavy work are prone to this type of tear.
Depending on the severity of the tear it may be termed as full thickness or partial rotator cuff tear.
Full thickness tear may require surgery.
Partial tear doesn't require surgery in most of the cases.
If the tear covers less than 50% of the rotator cuff tendon it is known as partial rotator cuff tear.
A more than 50% tear falls under full thickness tear.
Many people recover from mild tears with rest and medication.
Some recover with anti inflammatory medication, cortisone injections, and physical therapy.
Ice packs and heat packs are applied to the affected area.
The doctor may advise using a sling till the pain is completely gone.
The affected person has to desist from all kind of activities related to the affected shoulder.
When all these combined together do not help in healing this tear, surgery is suggested after determining the extent of tear with the help of magnetic resonance anthography.
Rotator cuff MRI is a poor detector of this type of tears.
Physical therapy is a necessary rotator cuff rehabilitation program for partial rotator cuff tear repair.
Surgery is the last resort for its repair.
The patient has a strong chance of complete recovery after surgery, though the doctor will be the best person to determine this depending on the type of tear.
Arthtroscopic surgery is the preferred form of surgery for repairing this type of tear.