Rotator Cuff Injuries in Fredericksburg Virginia
The rotator cuff is the group of muscles and tendons which stabilizes the shoulder and allows you to move your arm away from your body.
A rotator cuff tear is quite simply a tear of your shoulder’s rotator cuff tendons. A rotator cuff tear can occur in three ways – sports injury, trauma or repetitive overuse.
Dr. Goradia is a fellowship trained knee, shoulder and sports medicine specialist in Fredericksburg Virginia.
He is often able to repair massive rotator cuff tears for patients who have been told by others that their tear is not fixable.
What Are Common Rotator Cuff Injury Symptoms?
Pain is the most common symptom of a rotator cuff tear. The pain tends to be over the front and outer part of the shoulder. It is worse when your shoulder is moved in certain positions. Common symptoms include:
- A popping sound or tearing sensation in your shoulder
- A dull ache deep in the shoulder
- Pain at night that prevents you from sleeping on the affected side
- Muscle weakness, especially when lifting the arm
Rotator Cuff Injury Diagnosis
Dr. Goradia will discuss your symptoms and the circumstances around the time when they first appeared.
You will be asked to move your arm in several directions, or to hold it in various positions. X-rays can help to see problems with the bones, although other tests may be required to confirm a rotator cuff tear.
An MRI may be ordered if needed. Not all shoulder pain requires an MRI. In some cases we may need to will an arthrogram with an MRI which is known as an MR arthrogram. This test requires the radiologist to inject dye into the shoulder just before the MRI. This test may be needed if a labral tear is suspected.
Rotator Cuff Injury Treatment Options
There are different types of rotator cuff tears and treatment options will depend on the level of tear listed below:
- Partial, which is a tear that doesn’t completely sever the tendon. Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears do not completely sever the tendon but over time may worsen and progress to full-thickness tears.
- Full thickness tears, in which the tendon is torn into two pieces. This type of tear requires arthroscopic surgery to repair.
- Massive tears
New Surgical Techniques For Cuff Repairs
Patients often consult Dr. Goradia for a second opinion regarding a rotator tear if they have been told elsewhere that their tear cannot be repaired at all or that it can’t be done all arthroscopically.
Over the last several years Dr. Goradia developed a new surgical technique for massive rotator cuff tears that have poor tissue quality or are severely retracted and scarred.
With this technique, he reinforces the rotator repair with donor tissue. Although use of these tissues has existed for many years with open surgery, Dr. Goradia’s technique allows him to place the tissue into the shoulder arthroscopically.
Superior capsular reconstructions is another type of arthroscopic procedure with donor tissue. This can be used instead of a shoulder replacement when there is a massive tear associated with bone-on-bone arthritis.
“In 99% of patients I prefer all arthroscopic surgery regardless of size of the tear. Even with the largest of tears it is advantageous to repair arthroscopically as opposed to open surgery because it allows me to actually see more.” Dr. Vic Goradia – Knee & Shoulder Specialist in Glen Allen, VA
Why G2 Orthopedics and Sports Medicine?
Whether working with recreational athletes, injured workers, or any other individuals, Dr.Goradia provides each patient with the quality of care given to professional athletes.
Dr. Goradia is a leading knee and shoulder specialist and one of the first U.S. orthopedic surgeons to be certified in sports medicine as a subspecialty.
When you come to Dr. Goradia you don’t get shuffled among various doctors or PA’s. You are personally treated by Dr. Goradia whose expertise and orthopedic success is extensive.
