Rotator Cuff Treatment Facts

 

• The rotator cuff is responsible for the dynamic movement and stabilization of the shoulder joint along with the capsule and the labrum
• A torn rotator cuff involves the tearing of the soft tissue (tendons and ligaments) in the joint
• Often times, these tears lead to degeneration in the joint
• There are full thickness tears (or complete tears), degenerative tears (from aging or tendinosis/inflammation),
• and partial tears (some fibers of the tissue still remain)
• The morphology and function of the joint will change dramatically if the injury is not treated
• The re-tear rate after rotator cuff surgery can be anywhere from 10-57%, depending on the size of the tear (2cm or less = 10% re-tear rate, 8cm or more = 57% re-tear rate)
  
  

PRP INJECTIONS CAN PREVENT THE NEED FOR SURGERY

 

According to studies conducted by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons…

 

• By three months after the PRP injection, patients had significantly better forward flexion, abduction, and internal rotation compared to those who simply had a steroid injection
• Pain improvement in the PRP group increased by 67.7% compared to 24.9% by the steroid injection
• Only 3 out of 102 PRP patients required surgery after the injection due to separate complications, while 48 out of 102 patients in the steroid injection group required surgery due to the unsettled problem
• They concluded that patients that received PRP injections were 16 times less likely to need surgery compared to those with steroid injections

While Rotator Cuff Surgery may solve the immediate problem, there are many implications to think about…

 

• Risk of infection from open wounds, nerve injury, failure, increased pain, and requirement of pain medications
• Extended time off of work and reduction of daily activities
• Labor, nursing, hospital stay, anesthesiologist, and equipment charges
• Altered chemical environment in the joint capsule, ultimately leading to an increased rate of degeneration in the cartilage
• Long course of physical therapy with multiple visits
• Many RTC surgeries do not repair the tissues, but remove tissue changing anatomy

PRP and other regenerative procedures…*

 

• Allow you to return to normal activities the day after the procedure
• Allow you to return to work the next day
• Require only a one-time charge cheaper than most insurance deductibles
• Allow you to use your OWN BODY to heal your injuries