What is rotator cuff surgery?1
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that attach your arm to your shoulder blade.
Rotator cuff surgery is a surgical procedure that can repair the two most common types of rotator cuff injury:
- Rotator cuff tear — often caused by lifting heavy objects or falling.
- Rotator cuff degeneration — caused by age, wear and tear, and genetic factors.
This surgery is performed in hospital under general anaesthetic (you’ll be asleep) and takes 45 minutes to an hour.
The surgery can reduce pain and improve shoulder movement – but it’s usually only considered if other treatments are not helping.
Rotator cuff surgery is performed by an orthopaedic surgeon.
Medical terms for this procedure include ‘rotator cuff surgery’ or ‘rotator cuff repair’.