A 37-year-old member asked:
What happens when you tear your rotator cuff?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Allen Luanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 26 years experience
Functional loss: The rotator cuff typically tears at the insertion where it attaches to the humerus bone (ball part of the ball and socket). Since it stabilizes the shoulder, a tear doesn't allow the large muscles of the shoulder (deltoids) to function correctly and indirectly causes weakness and pain. A rotator cuff tear does not heal itself and usually requires surgery to reattach the tendon to the bone.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Vivek Agrawal commented
Orthopedic Surgery 33 years experience
Learn more here: http://theshouldercenter.com/Rotator-Cuff-Tear.htm
Mar 20, 2013
Dr. Charles Tomananswered
Sports Medicine 20 years experience
Tearing can : Be in different forms. There are full thickness tears which mean that there is a hole in the tendon all the way through. There are also partial thickness tears where some percentage of the thickness of the tendon is injured. This can be 25%, 50%, 75% or any percentage. Sometimes these can be debilitating even if only a small percent torn. Thank you!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 47-year-old female asked:
Can a tear heal on its own in a rotator cuff?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Brian Chimentianswered
Sports Medicine 29 years experience
Rotator Cuff: Depends on the size and thickness. Partial thickness tears can heal if they are less than 50% of the thickness of the tendon. Full thickness (complete) tears generally will not heal on their own and will often enlarge with time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
I wanted to know when you tear your rotator cuff what happens?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Tariq Niazianswered
Orthopedic Surgery 45 years experience
You lose the ability: To lift the arm away from the body to the side, ie, abduct the arm. Its painful.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
What do they do for a tear of the rotater cuff?
4 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Shawn Hennigananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 29 years experience
Cuff tear: Rotator cuff tendon tears are usually diagnosed when a patient presents with pain and weakness. Asymptommatic tears are usually left alone. Initial treatment includes nsaids, pt, and sometimes cortisone injection. Tears that continue to be painful despite these things, or when associated with persistent or progressive weakness, surgical repair is usuall recommended.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
What is the difference between an impingement and tear of a rotator cuff?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. John Ayresanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 39 years experience
Severity of condtion: With impingment, the rotator cuff is being pinched, without necessarily being torn, between the acromion of the shoulder blade and the top of the humerus. Raising your arm pinches the rotator cuff just like closing a door pinches your fingers if they are stuck between the door and door jam. A rotator cuff tear implies that the tendon is not simply inflamed but is partially or totally disrupted.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Aug 30, 2017
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