Dr. Benjamin Szerlip has extensive experience performing minimally invasive arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for patients throughout the North Austin, TX area. Dr. Szerlip maintains state-of-the-art techniques aimed at restoring range of motion while eliminating painful symptoms.
“Dr. Szerlip as performed 3 shoulder surgeries for my family. He took the time to listen, to understand, and to explain the injury and treatment plan until I was comfortable. And he gave up personal time on the weekend to help when my son’s recovery wasn’t going well. His work is exceptional; each of my sons have enjoyed a full recovery. I trust him completely with my family’s shoulder needs.” — MaryAnne W.
A rotator cuff is found within your shoulder. It consists of a series of tendons and muscles that work together to help you move your arm and shoulder joints. They stabilize the shoulder and allow you to lift and rotate your arm. In simpler terms, they’re like the support system for your shoulder, enabling various arm movements like reaching, lifting, and throwing.
Rotator cuff injuries typically happen due to sports activities, falls, or trauma like car accidents. These injuries can cause partial or complete tears in the tendons or muscles, or even to experiencing an internal rotation shoulder impingement.
Other causes of injury include inflammation of the tendons or bursa, small sacs of fluid within the joint, and calcific tendinitis, which occurs when calcium builds up in the joint. Repetitive use of the joint, such as jobs that require regular heavy weight lifting, is another common cause of injury.
Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a minimally invasive surgery for the shoulder. It utilizes specialized instruments inserted through small incisions. An arthroscope, equipped with a tiny camera, is inserted into the joint to provide visual feedback on a monitor during the procedure.
Procedures can also be performed using the arthroscope. Arthroscopic surgery is generally preferred compared to traditional open incision techniques since smaller incisions result in faster healing and fewer complications. However, not all rotator cuff injuries can be repaired arthroscopically.
Whether you’re a good candidate for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair depends on the severity of your shoulder injury, your overall health, and your activity level. Typically, if you have a small to moderate tear in your rotator cuff and haven’t found relief from non-surgical treatments, you may be a good candidate for this minimally invasive surgery.
Your orthopedic surgeon will evaluate your specific condition to determine the best course of action. A comprehensive examination of your shoulder joint including diagnostic imaging of the joint will be able to determine if an arthroscopic approach is the best choice for your rotator cuff surgery.
