More than four million people in the United States seek medical care for shoulder problems each year, and rotator cuff injuries are a common cause for patients over the age of 40. The rotator cuff is the tendon tissue that wraps around the shoulder joint at the front, top and back of the shoulder joint and stabilizes the shoulder joint. Rotator cuff injuries can be caused by trauma or by repetitive supination activities.
Signs and Symptoms
1. Recurrent and persistent pain, especially during supination activities.
2. Nocturnal pain, with sleep disrupted by lying on the affected side.
3. Muscle weakness, especially when trying to lift the arm.
4.There is a feeling of friction or a popping sound when moving the arm.
5.Limited movement of the shoulder joint
6.Usually occurs on the side with more activity
7.May be triggered by a specific activity
Risk factors
1.Repeatedly lifting the arm, such as laying tiles or painting the ceiling
2.When lifting heavy objects
3.Falling
4.Decreased blood supply to the rotator cuff due to aging of the shoulder joint
5, Narrowing of the gap between the clavicle and the acromion
6.Abrasion of the rotator cuff surface by the humeral head
Diagnosis of rotator cuff injury
1.Occupation, symptoms and history of trauma
2.Is there atrophy of the muscles around the shoulder joint? The mobility of the shoulder joint, the location of the restricted movement
3.Signs of acromion impingement and some other special examinations of the shoulder joint
4.Take X-ray film to understand the bone quality and the shape of the shoulder peak
5.Arthrography
6.MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
7.Ultrasonography, etc.
Treatment
Rotator cuff injuries may be partial or complete. Partial rotator cuff injuries can be treated non-surgically, while complete rotator cuff tears require surgical treatment. Surgical treatment should also be considered for incomplete rotator cuff injuries when conservative treatment is not effective.
Most rotator cuff injuries are relieved by conservative treatment, and the following conservative treatments are available.
1.Rest
2.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can relieve pain
3.Corticosteroid intra-articular injection
4.Ultrasound can synergize the effect of drug treatment, and there is a thermal effect with auxiliary therapeutic effect
5.Functional exercise of shoulder joint
Surgical treatment
According to the size, depth and location of rotator cuff injury, different surgical methods can be adopted.
1.Surgical treatment under shoulder arthroscopy
2.Minimally invasive surgical treatment by combining shoulder arthroscopy and small incisions
3.In the case of severe rotator cuff injury, open surgery is required for reconstruction
4.Artificial joint replacement of shoulder joint