Rotator Cuff Injury

The rotator cuff enables arm movements through a wide arc, so injuries are often limiting as well as painful. If you suffer a rotator cuff injury, visit Kellie K. Middleton, MD, in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Dr. Middleton provides expert treatments ranging from physical therapy and injections to complex surgery. Call Kellie K. Middleton, MD, to schedule a consultation, or use the online booking form to request an appointment today.

What is a rotator cuff injury?

The rotator cuff’s tendons and muscles extend from your scapula (shoulder blade) to your humerus (upper arm bone), surrounding the shoulder joint. It helps you move your arm in a wide arc, giving your shoulder the most extensive range of motion of any joint.

Rotator cuff injuries can occur whenever you overstretch the tissues. Trauma from a car accident, lifting heavy objects, falls, and sports injuries from throwing a baseball or swinging a golf club are just some causes of rotator cuff injuries. These movements tear the tendons that attach your muscles to the bones in your joints.

Long-term overuse can cause degenerative injuries. These chronic conditions are likely to affect:

• Wrestlers
• Rowers
• Baseball players
• Tennis players
• Carpenters
• Painters

Any activity or job that involves repetitive shoulder movements and/or lifting could cause the rotator cuff tissues to deteriorate. In many cases, long-term degenerative changes make the rotator cuff more likely to tear and can also cause tears without injuries. Rotator cuff tears can partially or completely separate the tissue from the bone.

What treatment helps with rotator cuff injuries?

Mild to moderate rotator cuff injuries might improve with rest, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy. If these treatments don’t improve your symptoms, Dr. Middleton offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and ReNu® injections to boost tissue healing, and steroid injections with potent anti-inflammatory effects.

Dr. Middleton might recommend surgery if these treatments fail to relieve your symptoms or the damage is too severe to heal without intervention. Options include:

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Arthroscopic repair is for small rotator cuff tears. Dr. Middleton makes tiny incisions and inserts an arthroscope — an instrument with a lighted camera on its end — into the joint. She completes your surgery using images relayed by the camera to a screen in the operating room.

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair causes less pain, requires a shorter recovery, and has fewer complication risks than open surgery.

Open rotator cuff repair

Open surgery is for long, complicated rotator cuff tears and those needing reconstruction procedures like a tendon transfer.

Mini-open rotator cuff repair

This procedure uses arthroscopy to evaluate the injury and remove bone spurs or damaged cartilage. Dr. Middleton then makes a larger incision for direct visual access to complete the surgery. It’s not as invasive as an open repair.

Call Kellie K. Middleton, MD, for expert rotator cuff injury treatment, or book an appointment online today.