Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery in Houston
You may have heard the term “rotator cuff” many times in the past without really understanding what it refers to or how an injury to this structure might affect your own health. When this arrangement of shoulder muscles and tendons sustains damage, you might need surgery to repair that damage and enjoy normal shoulder function again. Take a look at some key facts relating to rotator cuff repair surgery in Houston.
What Is a Rotator Cuff?
Your shoulder couldn’t move at all without its rotator cuff. It features four muscles that permit different kinds of mobility for this ball-and-socket joint. The supraspinatus muscle lifts your arm and allows for internal rotation. The teres minor and infraspinatus muscles handle external rotation, while the subscapularis lifts your arm out to one side. Tendons attach these muscles to various points on your collarbone and shoulder blade, giving the muscles the ability to move your humerus or upper arm bone.
What Are the Common Causes of Rotator Cuff Injuries?
Injuries can have a variety of causes which might result in a range of damage from mild inflammation to a full or partial tear. These causes may include:
Acute injuries – Some injuries occur as the direct result of an accident, such as a fall in which you try to brace yourself with your hand.- Overuse – If your work, favorite sport, or other activity requires you to reach upward on a constant basis, the strain can eventually damage your rotator cuff. Painters, construction workers, and athletes can experience this kind of injury.
- Age and predisposition – People aged 60 and over find themselves more vulnerable to damage than younger individuals. You might also have an elevated risk for rotator cuff injuries if such injuries tend to run in your family.
What Are the Effects of a Rotator Cuff Injury?
Whatever the cause of your injury, the effects can place serious limits on your comfort, function, and independence. If you tore or otherwise injured the tissues of your rotator cuff, your symptoms may include:
- Weakness in the affected arm.
- Pain in the shoulder region may interfere with your efforts to sleep.
- An inability to move your arm behind your back or overhead.
These symptoms can vary greatly in intensity, with the mildest injuries causing no symptoms at all. Many less serious rotator cuff tears respond to non-surgical techniques such as rest, medication, and physical therapy. However, if these methods don’t ease your pain and stiffness, you may need to schedule rotator cuff repair surgery in Houston.
Let NW Surgery Help You
NW Surgery’s surgeons can help you overcome a debilitating rotator cuff injury. As Greater Houston’s premier orthopedic surgery center and oldest physician-owned surgery facility, we feature an unrivaled team of experienced surgical specialists. We also have access to advanced surgical techniques to repair your rotator cuff as effectively and non-invasively as possible. Because we believe everyone should be able to receive the care they need, we regularly work with uninsured patients while also accepting coverage from many leading providers.
While some complete rotator cuff tears may call for traditional open surgery, the majority of them can be addressed through arthroscopic surgery. Our team at NW Surgery uses elongated, camera-equipped tools to reattach rotator cuff components through only a few small incisions. As a result, you can recover more quickly and with less postoperative discomfort. We can even take care of other, related issues during the reattachment surgery, such as removing bone spurs that might otherwise encourage the damage to recur.
Contact Our Center to Schedule Rotator Cuff Surgery
Don’t let a severely torn rotator cuff leave you with just one working arm or shoulder. Contact us today to tell us about your symptoms, injury history, and previous attempts to heal the damage. We’ll be happy to connect you with a surgeon who will evaluate your shoulder and, if necessary, administer state-of-the-art rotator cuff repair surgery in Houston.
