Study record managers: refer to the Data Element Definitions if submitting registration or results information. The rotator cuff is a musculotendinous amalgamation of four muscles that arise from the scapula and insert on the proximal humerus. The tendons of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor form a continuous cuff around the humeral head and allow for a variety of movements in rotation of the humeral head. Tears of one or more of these tendons that comprise the rotator cuff are one of the many causes of pain and disability in the shoulder Treatment of these tears has included both operative and non-operative approaches.

We have established protocols for staff and physicians to ensure that our response is consistent with the standards of the U. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local and state health departments. Many office visits can be done via Telemedicine. Due to the increasingly stringent Shelter In Place orders, the need for determining true necessity for in-office visits is essential and required. Someone from your clinical team will contact you to determine your current needs.

A doctor might recommend a surgery called subacromial [sub-ah-kro-mee-al] decompression if shoulder impingement pain does not go away with rest and physical therapy. For example, raising an arm can cause the rotator cuff to be pinched. Decompression surgery relieves this pressure by expanding the available space for soft tissue. In a normal shoulder the subacromial space is about 9 to 10 millimeters high. See Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery.

To chop a shoulder or not to chop a shoulder … that is the question. One of the big issues with rotator cuff surgery is the long recovery time spent in an immobilizer brace. Unfortunately, the more procedures a surgeon performs during the surgery including the addition of acromioplasty , the longer the recovery time. A study reported in the November issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery demonstrated that the addition of acromioplasty to rotator cuff surgery lengthens recovery time.