Long-term Outlook Good for Rotator Cuff Repairs

March 02, 2009

Patients who underwent a rotator cuff repair surgery experienced pain relief and improved shoulder function, even after a tear recurrence, according to a new study to be presented at the 2009 American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine Specialty Day in Las Vegas. Rotator cuff tears can be caused by a traumatic event to the shoulder, such as a fall, or over a period of time due to wear and tear, which is more common in athletic individuals. The study evaluated a group of 15 patients approximately eight years after they received rotator cuff repair.

"We initially tested the patients at three years after their surgery and found that those with a recurrence of a tear were doing well," explains lead author, Christopher Dodson, MD, of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City where 839 rotator cuff repairs were preformed last year. "The study analyzed whether having the original surgery produced any long-term benefits for the patient."

At an average of eight years after surgery, 15 patients completed four assessment surveys. Of those 15, 11 were reexamined with ultrasound testing. The test results indicated that those who with recurrent rotator cuff defects were still better off in terms of pain, function, and strength than they were before the rotator cuff was originally repaired. The study also found that the recurrent tears grew in size, but remained painless and did not affect function. None of the patients had needed further treatment or surgery, and none experienced any persistent shoulder pain.

"Our obvious concern for patients who have a recurrent rotator cuff defect after surgical repair is that symptoms may recur over time. Our study concluded that the patient will experience long-term benefit from surgery and remain asymptomatic, even if a recurrent defect is present. This is encouraging for both the surgeon and the patient undergoing rotator cuff repair."

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is a world leader in sports medicine education, research, communication and fellowship, and includes national and international orthopaedic sports medicine leaders. The Society works closely with many other sports medicine specialists, including athletic trainers, physical therapists, family physicians, and others to improve the identification, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries.

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine

---

---

	Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff by Jim Johnson (Author) Based entirely on research from peer-reviewed journals and randomized controlled trials, Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff is a complete program to prevent and rehabilitate rotator cuff injuries for athletes and non-athletes alike. In less than 100 pages, readers will learn precisely how the rotator cuff works, what can go wrong with it, and then are guided step-by-step through an evidence-based program that takes just minutes a week to complete. Drawing from the latest rotator cuff research, Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff will be especially useful for those who have been diagnosed with either a partial or full-thickness rotator cuff tear, experience shoulder pain, do upper body weight lifting, play a sport or have a job that involves repeated arm motions above shoulder level, have been...
	Healthy Shoulder Handbook: 100 Exercises for Treating and Preventing Frozen Shoulder, Rotator Cuff and other Common Injuries by Karl Knopf M.D. (Author) END PAIN, REGAIN RANGE OF MOTION AND PREVENT RE-INJURY Millions of people suffer from debilitating shoulder problems every year. With Healthy Shoulder Handbook, you can take yourself off that list. This friendly manual outlines the causes for common shoulder conditions, including shoulder impingement, rotator cuff, tendinitis, dislocation and repetitive motion injuries. Illustrated with over 300 step-by-step photographs, Healthy Shoulder Handbook offers easy-to-follow exercises to: • Build strength • Improve flexibility • Speed up recovery • Prevent injury Healthy Shoulder Handbook also features specially designed programs to reverse or alleviate the strain from high-risk sports and occupations, including construction work, desk...
	Shoulder Pain Gone in Just Days! by ExercisesForInjuries.com Do you have stubborn and ache shoulder pain that just seems to never go away? I can help you better understand your shoulder pain, explain to you what is going wrong, let you know what you can do and finally help that shoulder pain go away for good. You will get all of this when you order Shoulder Pain Gone in Just Days!
	Shoulder Pain? The Solution & Prevention, Revised & Expanded by John M. Kirsch M.D. (Author) This is a self-help book written by John M. Kirsch, M.D., an Orthopedic Surgeon for the public. It is the result of 25 years of research into a new and simple shoulder exercise program to treat and prevent rotator cuff tears, the impingement syndrome, and the ''frozen shoulder.'' Testimonials and research CT scan images are included, as well as images of the exercises performed by models and patients.
	Fixing You: Shoulder & Elbow Pain: Self-treatment for rotator cuff strain, shoulder impingement, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, and other diagnoses. by Rick Olderman MSPT (Author) The shoulders are a floating system on the trunk, held in place and moved by muscular control. The foundation of shoulder movement is the shoulder blade which has precise resting and moving landmarks. Fixing You: Shoulder & Elbow Pain teaches you what these landmarks are and how to correct them to fix your shoulder pain. Likewise elbow pain such as tennis elbow also is influenced by the shoulder blade and upper arm bone. This book teaches you, using simple language and plenty of illustrations, how to fix the issues causing pain in both areas. Video clips of all exercises can be found at www.FixingYou.net by entering the code found in the book. This ensures faster results.
	Rotator Cuff Recovery Kit by Mark Watson Learn how to completely recover from a torn rotator cuff using simple steps at home without the need of any medical gadgets or special exercise equipment. This is a self paced, home rehabilitation program that saves you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on expensive physical therapy, doctors appointments or invasive surgery. Contains over 170 medical pics and illustrations with over 40 instructional online video tutorials that literally take you by the hand throughout the entire program. Completely safe and effective regardless of your age or how long you've suffered with a rotator cuff injury.
	7 Minute Rotator Cuff Solution by Jerry Robinson (Author), Joseph Horrigan (Author) The 7-Minute Rotator Cuff Solution is a quick, simple program to help prevent (or help you recover from) rotator cuff injuries. It details how the shoulder works, what can go wrong and why, and describes exactly what to do (and not do) to insure against the risk of shoulder problems developing in the first place. Drawing from the latest scientific research, The 7-Minute Rotator Cuff Solution offers a new approach to prevention unlike any every published. Created by Dr. Joseph Horrigan, director of the Soft Tissue Center in Los Angeles, and Jerry Robinson, president and research director of Health For Life.
	Heal Your Rotator Cuff by In.Genu Design Group Inc. Shoulder injuries often result in pain and swelling that can limit your range of motion, weaken your shoulder muscles, and cause discomfort at night while you sleep. While approximately 6 million individuals in the US suffer with shoulder injuries, many of them will only find temporary relief with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and cortisone or steroid injections. In some cases, given time and care, a rotator cuff tendon or muscle tear can heal itself. Unfortunately, this method is often a slow process and most likely results in the buildup of scar tissue leaving you with inflexible shoulder tissue that is prone to further injury. By reading this book, you’ll learn about 3 alternative treatment methods you can use that are proven effective by other...
	Rotator Cuff Injuries Solved! by Dr. Ashley Nicol DC (Author) Suffering with Shoulder Pain? Rotator Cuff Injuries Solved! is a guide to dealing with shoulder pain and injuries. Causes of shoulder issues, and the many treatment options available are laid out plainly for all.
	The Natural Rotator Cuff Healing Guide Just had torn rotator cuff surgery? Don't want to suffer rotator cuff pain again? Cure your rotator cuff injury all on your own with effective rotator cuff exercises. Learn what medical professionals don't want you to know.