Restoring Function. Embracing Life.
Rotator Cuff Specialist in Singapore
Dr Bryan Wang
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Trusted Orthopaedic Surgeon | Fellowship-trained in Canada | With over 15-years of experience
What is Rotator Cuff Injury?
The rotator cuff is a group of 4 muscles which helps to stabilise and move the shoulder joint. Rotator cuff injuries can range from shoulder impingement/tendinitis to partial or complete tears.
Rotator cuff injuries can occur due to degeneration (wear and tear) or trauma (fall/dislocation).
Risk factors for developing rotator cuff injuries include increasing age (due to a reduced blood supply) and repetitive overhead activities (due to impingement from bone spurs).
Occasionally, a rotator cuff tear can also occur from a traumatic injury to the shoulder or a shoulder dislocation.
What are the symptoms?
Patients with rotator cuff injuries may present with the following symptoms:
Shoulder pain
Usually made worse by overhead activities
Shoulder weakness
Difficulty sleeping on the affected side
Difficulty in returning to sports/work
How to Diagnose?
Clinical assessment will include taking a detailed history and a thorough examination of your shoulder.
Further imaging tests like X-rays, MRI scans and ultrasound scans may occasionally be required.
Rotator Cuff Injury Treatment
What are my Treatment options?
If you have any of the symptoms above, it is advisable to see an orthopaedic specialist for further assessment. The appropriate treatment is decided after assessment and a collaborative discussion based on your needs. They can be broadly divided into conservative (non-surgical) and surgical options.
Rotator Cuff Injury Conservative Treatment
Non-surgical measures will usually be recommended first if you have not had any prior treatment for your rotator cuff injury. These may include a combination or all of the following measures:
Rest: reduce overhead activities to minimise further impingement
Cold packs: to reduce swelling
Medications: anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling
Physiotherapy: to strengthen the shoulder muscles and improve range of motion
Cortisone injection: this may sometimes be required if the pain is persistent
Rotator Cuff Injury Surgical Treatment
If your shoulder pain and weakness is persistent despite all the above measures, surgery may sometimes be required. The appropriate surgical treatment will depend on the nature of the tear (size, duration) as well as your needs (age, functional demands).
The surgery is typically performed in a minimally-invasive fashion (keyhole) and involves re-attaching the tendon to the bone (if reparable) or a superior capsular reconstruction (if not repairable).
Occasionally, a shoulder replacement (reverse shoulder arthroplasty) may be required if shoulder arthritis has already developed.
