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Rotator cuff

Muscle group around the shoulder joint

The complex group of muscles around the shoulder joint is called the rotator cuff. Disorders of the rotator cuff limit mobility and strength, which is why diseases and injuries in this area require prompt and efficient treatment.

The rotator cuff consists of tendons that pull from the shoulder blade to the humeral head. These move the arm to the side and upward, turning it outward and inward. An accident or wear and tear can cause a tear/rupture of one or more tendons. The incidence of rotator cuff tears increases with age. In this case, pain and, in some cases, a considerable reduction in strength are in the foreground.

At the Orthopedic Center Munich East (OZMO), we offer professional diagnostics and treatment of rotator cuff disorders from a single source. Contact us for an appointment to treat shoulder joint discomfort as soon as possible.

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The specialists at the Orthopädie Zentrum München Ost will be happy to provide you with a medical consultation. Take advantage of our wealth of experience in the field of orthopedics and feel free to make an appointment with us!

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Orthopädie Zentrum München Ost - Schulter - Erkrankungen

Table of Contents:

Complaints caused by the rotator cuff

Structure of the rotator cuff
Injuries and diseases of the rotator cuff

Diagnostics on the rotator cuff
Orthopedic treatments of the rotator cuff
Consultation & treatment of the rotator cuff at OZMO

Complaints caused by the rotator cuff

Pain in the shoulder is often related to injury, inflammation or wear and tear on the rotator cuff. The muscles and tendons of the complex joint structure of the shoulder are susceptible to overload and misload, as not only the mobility but also the strength of the arms and shoulders is related to them. Injuries often result in partial or complete rupture of the tendon (tendon rupture of the shoulder), but can also occur with increasing age due to wear and tear, changes in the joint caused by disease and associated irritation and inflammation, or after accidents during sports.

Structure of the rotator cuff

The rotator cuff consists of four muscles and tendons that give the shoulder mobility and stability at the same time:

Musculus supraspinatus
Infraspinatus muscle
Subcapularis muscle
Musculus teres minor

Each muscle is connected to a tendon that enables the counter movement after an active movement. Thus, the spuraspinatus muscle ensures the abduction of the shoulder, and the associated tendon ensures the return to the original position. External rotation is performed via the infraspinatus and teres minor muscles, while the subcapularis muscle allows internal rotation.

Injuries and diseases of the rotator cuff

In most cases, injuries and diseases of the rotator cuff are related to overuse and incorrect loading or age-related signs of wear and tear. Thus, inflammation of overstimulated tissue parts may occur or the shoulder joint may be affected by chronic diseases with inflammation (e.g. osteoarthritis). Resting the joint and, if necessary, treating the inflammation or the causative disease with medication are essential for the best possible recovery from rotator cuff complaints. Untreated inflammation can result in tissue damage that causes new inflammation and irreversible damage to the joint.

Another common problem as a cause of rotator cuff pain, in addition to inflammation, is rupture. On the one hand, such tears can occur in an accident, but on the other hand, they can also be caused by an age-related weakening of the tissue due to wear in combination with overload or incorrect loading. Ruptures must always be treated medically as partial or complete ruptures of rotator cuff tendons in order to avoid secondary damage with movement restrictions and chronic pain.

Diagnostics on the rotator cuff

In the case of complaints with the shoulder, the diagnosis of the rotator cuff is first carried out by the orthopedist via a physical examination with various functional tests. Once the specialist has initial findings, he or she determines further examinations using imaging techniques such as sonography, magnetic resonance imaging or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to specifically localize damage to the tendons and muscles and determine the extent.

At the Orthopaedic Center Munich East, we can perform almost all necessary examinations directly, as our well-equipped practice rooms also allow imaging procedures such as an MRI. With our years of experience and specialized expertise, our accomplished orthopedic specialists can diagnose even complex injuries and conditions, allowing us to initiate appropriate treatment in a timely manner.

Orthopedic treatments of the rotator cuff

Treatment of rotator cuff tears depends on the extent of the injury. The extent of the painful functional limitation, the patient’s age, his or her functional requirements and the size of the tear are taken into account in the treatment planning. The goal of treatment is to regain strength and mobility while relieving pain.

However, conservative therapies cannot always restore full strength to the arm. Late damage can occur if the centering of the humeral head is missing. Even minor tears can cause severe pain and significant limitation of arm function. This leads to restrictions in mobility that can have a lasting effect on everyday life and lifestyle habits.

Surgery is required for fresh tears (pictured above), persistent discomfort, or loss of function from the injured rotator cuff and its tendons. The tears are sutured via the arthroscopic procedure. Larger tears can also be sutured minimally invasively (3 – 5 cm skin incision). In the process, the tendons are reattached to the humeral head via anchors and can heal there (picture below).

Surgeries are performed by our orthopedic surgeons on an outpatient or inpatient basis as needed. A special arm splint (abduction pad) must be worn for 4 to 6 weeks and the arm must not be moved by itself/actively so that the sutured rotator cuff tendons can heal. Of course, our orthopedic specialists will be happy to assist you from diagnosis to completed treatment and support you with all your questions on the road to recovery.

Consultation & treatment of the rotator cuff at OZMO

As your specialists at the Orthopädie Zentrum München Ost (OZMO), we are happy to be there for you and provide you with detailed, easy-to-understand and competent advice before treatment. Take advantage of our wealth of experience in the specialty of orthopedics to have rotator cuff discomfort and disease treated promptly. If you are already receiving treatment but would like a professional second opinion on your shoulder and rotator cuff health, we are also happy to provide our expertise.

Call or write us your message and make an appointment for rotator cuff, shoulder and other joint examinations and treatments.

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