Rearm Yourself - Tomaino Arm Care Network

Treatment of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears

posted 3/27/11 in Rotator Cuff Dysfunction

Massive tears are defined as greater than 5 cm, but for all intents and purposes, these are tears that involve the entire insertion of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons, with some involement of the teres minor--or complete slippage off the back of the humeral head of the former two tendons....

Treatment of Partial Thickness Cuff Tears

posted 3/7/11 in Rotator Cuff Dysfunction

Tears of the rotator cuff may not be full thickness. Partial tears are either intraarticular--on the inside surface of the cuff, and visualized from the inside of the shoulder joint-- or bursal-sided partial tears--not seen from the inside, but identified from the subacromial view. Partial cuff tears may potentially be distinguished...

Treatment of the AC Joint Arthritis

posted 3/7/11 in Rotator Cuff Dysfunction

The AC joint--acromioclavicular joint--at the end of the clavicle, can be a painful part of rotator cuff disease. Arthritic spurs on its undersurface may impinge on the irritated or torn rotator cuff below, or joint deterioration alone may cause pain. In such cases, arthroscopic resection---the so-called "Mumford procedure"-- can be easily...

Treatment of Impingement Syndrome

posted 3/7/11 in Rotator Cuff Dysfunction

“Impingement” of the rotator cuff is one of the most common causes of pain in the adult shoulder. It results from pressure on the rotator cuff from the acromium as the arm is lifted overhead. The acromium may have a curved shape—which causes bony impingment. The acromion is the front...

Treatment of Full Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears

posted 3/7/11 in Rotator Cuff Dysfunction

The rotator cuff includes four muscles - the supraspinatus, the infraspinatus, the subscapularis, and the teres minor. These muscles cover the humeral head and are largely responsible raising the arm overhead, and rotating the arm side to side. Acute trauma and gradual attenuation are the 2 most common ways that...

Treatment of Subscapularis Tendon tears

posted 3/7/11 in Rotator Cuff Dysfunction

Though subscapularis tendon tears occur infrequently--repair is indeed possible with arthroscopic techniques. The biceps tendon may be subluxated out of its groove, and typically requires either tenotomy or tenodesis at the time of repair. Postoperatively, a sling is required for 6 weeks. If only the subscapularis is torn, active internal rotation...

Calcific Tendonitis

posted 5/10/08 in Rotator Cuff Dysfunction

Calcium deposits form in the rotator cuff tendons at their insertion on the greater tuberosity and cause pain in the shoulder either due to impingement between the deposit(s) and the overlying acromium or due to the calcium itself—during the “painful” resorptive phase. This is a common condition occurring in...

Latissimus Dorsi tendon transfer for irreparable rotator cuff tears

posted 5/9/07 in Rotator Cuff Dysfunction

Chronic massive rotator cuff tears can cause substantial shoulder pain and dysfunction. The goals of surgical treatment must be considered in the context of the individual patient and the complexity of the procedure itself, as well as postoperative recovery and rehabilitation. Complete primary repair is possible in some patients (see...