Shoulder Rotator Cuff Repair: Surgical Video Technique

Small complete or near-complete tears of the rotator cuff of the shoulder are repairable using arthroscopic same-day surgery techniques, as demonstrated in the surgical video. No open incisions are required.

This 90% insertional tear of the supraspinatus tendon was completed with a debridement technique to allow for healthy tissue-to-tissue repair.

The repair was then anchored to the bone using a “rip-stop” method of securing the tendon.

This was then augmented with the patient's own platelet rich plasma , injected into both the tendon and the local subacromial/bursal environment.

The patient receives an anesthetic block allowing them to recover at home in a sling for several weeks, followed by a period of rehabilitation and complete recovery.

After suture repair (augmented by PRP), the re-attached root is stable, hopefully, to restore some protective cushion with weight-bearing. The femur cartilage needs more clean-up.

After trimming & ablation "sculpting" of the medial meniscus rim, a root tear of the posterior horn is observed & probed to demonstrate instability. Note the grade 3 cartilage changes of the overlying femur.

Author

Dr. Kelly Cunningham Physician