To repair a torn rotator cuff, the surgeon will reattach the damaged tendon to the upper arm.
The surgery will be done as follows:
- To gain access to the injured rotator cuff, the surgeon will first make a two to three inch incision in the shoulder. Then will make a cut through the deltoid muscle. If it is the arthroscopic surgery, then the incision will have the size of a button hole.
- The surgeon will then remove any scar tissue which is present on the tendon.
- A small trough at the top of the upper arm will be carved by the surgeon. Then he will drill small holes through the bones.
- The surgeon will then sew the tendon to the bone. Sometimes the surgeon may use permanent anchors to attach the tendon to the bone.