Rotator Cuff Repair

Rotator Cuff Repair services offered in Wasilla, AK

The rotator cuff in your shoulder can stretch or tear quite easily under the right conditions. If you injure your rotator cuff, visit the board-certified surgeons at Pioneer Peak Orthopedics in Wasilla, Alaska. They have extensive experience in performing rotator cuff repair surgery, so patients regain the use of their arm with minimal delay. Call Pioneer Peak Orthopedics today to access fast, efficient rotator cuff repairs.

What is the rotator cuff?

The muscles and tendons surrounding your shoulder that make up the rotator cuff help to lift and rotate your arm. They also keep the shoulder joint stable.

Injuries to these tendons and muscles can cause disabling pain, weakness, and difficulty moving the arm.

Why might I need a rotator cuff repair?

Rotator cuff injuries can happen for several reasons, including the following:

Wear-and-tear

Over time, the shoulder tendons can weaken because of aging or repetitive shoulder movements.

Injury

A fall, heavy lifting, or sudden arm movement can cause a rotator cuff to tear.

Overuse

Athletes and workers who perform a lot of overhead motions (like baseball players, painters, or construction workers) are at higher risk of a rotator cuff tear.

What are the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear?

Common rotator cuff tear symptoms include:

Shoulder pain, especially when lifting or reaching
Weakness in the arm
A clicking or popping sensation in the shoulder
Difficulty sleeping due to shoulder discomfort

The treatment the Pioneer Peak Orthopedics team recommends for rotator cuff tears depends on the severity of the tear.

What treatments help heal rotator cuff tears?

Rotator cuff tear treatment options include:

Physical therapy to encourage healing and retain movement
Strengthening exercises for improved mobility and reduced pain
Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to help with pain and swelling
Steroid injections for severe inflammation

If the tear is extensive or nonsurgical treatments don’t work, you might need surgery.

What rotator cuff repair surgeries are available?

The two primary techniques Pioneer Peak Orthopedics uses to treat rotator cuff tears are repair and reconstruction. With a repair, the team reattaches torn tendons to the bone. If the tear is severe and the team can’t repair it, they use a section of tendon from elsewhere to reconstruct the rotator cuff.

Open surgery may be necessary for tendon reconstruction, but the team completes most rotator cuff repairs using arthroscopic surgery. This is a minimally invasive procedure where surgeons use small instruments and a camera (arthroscope) to repair the tendon through tiny incisions.

Pioneer Peak Orthopedics also uses robotic-assisted surgery for some shoulder operations to improve precision and enhance recovery.

If you have shoulder pain, talk to Pioneer Peak Orthopedics to see if rotator cuff repair is the right option for you. Call the office or visit the orthopedic walk-in clinic today.