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Long-Term Effects of a Rotator Cuff Tear

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and associated tendons that allow rotation of the upper arm and hold the humerus bone in the shoulder joint. A torn rotator cuff can have a long-term impact on shoulder health.

  1. The Facts

    • Tears of the rotator cuff may be partial or complete, and typically occur in the tendons.

    Nonsurgical Repair

    • Long-term weakness of the shoulder is likely to occur if the rotator cuff tear is treated only with non-surgical options, such as rest and anti-inflammatory medication. Patients who opt for this type of treatment typically are more concerned with relieving shoulder pain.

    Surgical Repair

    • Surgical repair is usually needed to restore full shoulder function. Potential long-term effects of surgery include tissue damage that limits shoulder motion, nerve damage, stiffness and re-tearing of the affected tendon.

    Factors in Surgical Outcomes

    • Certain factors influence the likelihood of a positive surgical outcome. These include the size of the tear, the age of the patient and the quality of the rotator cuff tissue in the area of the tear.

    Considerations

    • Roughly one in 10 individuals experiences complications in the aftermath of rotator cuff surgery.

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