Rotator cuff injury
Treatment options in Shanghai

A nonsurgical plan may combine adjustments to painful activities, appropriate pain relief and exercises to improve movement and strength. Selected patients may discuss an injection, but suitability and timing require clinical advice. The objective is to reduce symptoms and improve useful shoulder function; improvement does not necessarily mean that a torn tendon has reattached. Agree on goals such as dressing, sleep or reaching a work surface, and how progress will be measured. Some tears can enlarge, so persistent weakness or deteriorating function should lead to reassessment rather than endless repetition of the same programme.

Surgery may be considered when pain or disability persists despite an appropriate nonsurgical course, when a recent traumatic tear produces significant weakness, or when the demands of work or sport make the loss of function particularly important. Tear size, tissue quality, overall health and your priorities influence the choice. Repair aims to reattach the tendon to bone, but not every tear has the same repair options. Ask what the surgeon believes is achievable and which findings could change the plan during the operation.

Arthroscopic and open approaches are selected according to the tear and other clinical circumstances. The name of the technique does not by itself guarantee less pain, complete healing or a return to previous sport. Discuss infection, nerve injury, stiffness, anaesthetic complications and failure of the repair or another tear. The significance of these risks depends on the planned procedure and your condition. It is useful to ask what would happen if pain continued despite rehabilitation, including whether further assessment rather than another operation would be the next step.