Rotator Cuff Repair Specialist
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Louis Peter Re, Jr., MD
located in Midtown West, New York, NY
A torn rotator cuff can make even the slightest shoulder motion excruciatingly painful, so it’s not surprising that rotator cuff repair is one of the most common shoulder surgeries today. If it’s time for surgery, you need a top orthopedic specialist — and that’s when it’s time to call board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeon Louis Peter Re Jr., MD. Dr. Re uses the most up-to-date cutting-edge procedures, including the REGENETEN® bioinductive implant for partial rotator cuff tears. Learn more by calling the Midtown West office in Manhattan, New York City, or clicking the online scheduler tool now.
Rotator Cuff Repair Q & A
What is a rotator cuff tear?
A rotator cuff tear is a rip in one of the tendons that support and stabilize your shoulder joint. Rotator cuff tears are quite common, affecting 2 million adults annually.
A rotator cuff tear can cause extreme pain when you move your shoulder. Often, patients with a rotator cuff tear can't do ordinary tasks like brushing their hair, pulling a jacket on, or reaching to open a door. It's also common to experience pain while you're trying to sleep if you have a rotator cuff tear.
How are partial and full-thickness rotator cuff tears different?
Partial tear means you have a rip in the tendon, but it's not severed. Partial thickness tears can vary quite a bit, affecting anywhere from 10-50% of your affected tendon, possibly more.
A full-thickness rotator cuff tear means the affected tendon is torn completely, so it's essentially in two pieces.
When do I need rotator cuff repair surgery?
If you have a partial or full-thickness rotator cuff tear that doesn't improve with rest, immobilization, medication, injections, physical therapy, and other conservative interventions, Dr. Re may recommend rotator cuff repair surgery.
Even if conservative care relieves your symptoms significantly, rotator cuff repair surgery is the only way to restore the tendon to its normal position in your shoulder.
How does rotator cuff repair surgery work?
Dr. Re performs all types of rotator cuff repairs, including open and arthroscopic procedures. Whenever possible, Dr. Re performs shoulder arthroscopy because it requires much smaller incisions of only about 1 centimeter (cm) each.
In an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, Dr. Re creates an incision for the arthroscope. The arthroscope is a pen-sized device containing a camera and light. It sends a video feed of your inner shoulder to a large monitor.
Dr. Re then creates additional small incisions for the surgical tools. He uses those tools to place anchor sutures, which secure the torn tendon to your shoulder bone.
For a partial thickness tear, Dr. Re may use the cutting-edge REGENTEN® implant. This collagen implant stimulates a regenerative response, inducing new tendon-like tissue development. It can also help stop rotator cuff tears from worsening.
Rotator cuff tears don’t have to keep you from your life. Call the office of Louis Peter Re Jr., MD, or book an appointment online to learn how rotator cuff repair can restore your function and ease your pain.