It’s the ninth inning. The home team is on the field in anticipation of another win. The fans are cheering as the pitcher winds up for his final throw of the night. As the ball leaves his hand, he feels a sharp pain and clutches his shoulder. The next day, the local newspaper reports he’s out for the season with a torn rotator cuff.
We hear about shoulder and elbow injuries like this quite often, usually with regard to a sports injury. The fact is, a rotator cuff tear in the shoulder is very common and can occur while performing normal activity. The good news is most elbow and shoulder problems can be resolved without surgery. For people who do need surgery, however, innovative, minimally invasive techniques are now available.
A Better Way
The rotator cuff — the group of muscles in the shoulder that support and strengthen the shoulder joint — is a common place for injury to occur. About half of people 50 years of age and older sustain some degree of rotator cuff tear, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Most of these cases are treated successfully with rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and strengthening exercises. For some patients, however, symptoms persist and surgery becomes necessary.
Until recently, rotator cuff surgery was a major medical procedure, involving sizable incisions and an overnight hospital stay. Fortunately, there is now an easier alternative: arthroscopic surgery, in which the surgeon inserts a narrow tube with a scope through a button-hole-sized opening, views the joint from a tiny TV camera inside the tube, and then repairs the injury. “The advantages of arthroscopic surgery include less pain after surgery, a reduced risk of infection, and no need for an overnight hospital stay,” explains Patrick Wupperman, MD, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine with Azalea Orthopedics. “Typically, you get your motion back in weeks instead of months,” notes Dr. Wupperman, who uses the arthroscopic double-row technique (this involves two rows of suture anchors inside the shoulder rather than one and more closely mimics natural anatomy).
Good for the Shoulder, Good for the Elbow
Dr. Wupperman uses arthroscopic surgery to treat elbow pain, another condition that grows increasingly common with age. He uses the technique to remove inflamed lining from the elbow (a source of chronic pain), repair torn ligaments, and take out loose bone or bone growths (spurs) that cause pain and stiffness.
All’s Well that Ends Well
According to Dr. Wupperman, most arthroscopic procedures have dramatically improved results. Patients come to the office in severe pain and have difficulty using their arm or shoulder. After surgery and a recovery period, they are typically pain-free and able to return to doing everyday activities, he says.
Dr. Wupperman’s only regret is that some people suffer needlessly for years before seeing a specialist. “Many fear the prospect of having to undergo difficult, invasive surgery,” he says. “Today, however, it is easier than ever to heal shoulder and elbow problems permanently, and that’s great news for everyone.”
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