Rotator Cuff Tear Specialist

Valley Orthopedic Institute

Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeons & Hand Surgeons located in Palmdale, CA & Ridgecrest, CA

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that support your ability to move your arm in a wide range of directions. A rotator cuff tear is a common injury that affects one or more of the tendons in the shoulder, causing pain and limiting mobility. Anand Shah, MD, Mehul Taylor, MD, and the team at Valley Orthopedic Institute in Palmdale and Ridgecrest, California, provide comprehensive care for a rotator cuff tear, including arthroscopic surgery when appropriate. Schedule an appointment with the skilled board-certified orthopedic surgeons by calling the office or booking online today.

Rotator Cuff Tear Q & A

What is a rotator cuff tear?

A rotator cuff tear means one or more of the tendons that make up your rotator cuff is no longer attached to your upper arm. Your rotator cuff is made up of four muscles that come together as tendons, wrapping around the top portion of your upper arm bone.

Your rotator cuff keeps the ball joint of your upper arm bone in the socket joint of your shoulder and supports arm mobility.

You may develop a rotator cuff tear from an acute injury, such as a fall onto the shoulder. However, tears in these tendons most often occur because of tissue degeneration.

A rotator cuff tear may be partial (tendon is damaged) or complete (tendon is no longer attached to the arm).

What are the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear?

Symptoms of a rotator cuff tear can vary depending on the cause. After an acute tear, you may have sudden, intense shoulder pain and arm weakness.

With a tear from degenerative changes, your symptoms may be less obvious. You may have shoulder pain at rest or when moving your arm in certain directions. You may notice weakness in your muscles or feel a crackling sensation when you move your arm.

Rotator cuff tears are common. If you have these symptoms, schedule a consultation with the board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Valley Orthopedic Institute.

What can I expect during a rotator cuff tear consultation?

You can expect a thorough exam when you visit Valley Orthopedic Institute for a rotator cuff tear consultation. The team reviews your symptoms, the underlying cause of the injury, and how it affects your daily routine.

They do a physical examination of your shoulder, testing the strength and mobility of the arm and shoulder joint. They also perform diagnostic tests to confirm a diagnosis, such as X-rays or an MRI.

How is a rotator cuff tear treated?

Most rotator cuff tears heal without surgery. Your nonsurgical rotator cuff tear treatment plan may include activity modification, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and physical therapy.

If your rotator cuff tear symptoms fail to improve with nonsurgical interventions or you need the use of your arms for work or sports, the Valley Orthopedic Institute team may recommend surgery.

The Valley Orthopedic Institute team uses minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery when repairing a rotator cuff tear. During the surgery, they reattach the tendon to the head of the upper arm bone.

Call Valley Orthopedic Institute or schedule your rotator cuff tear evaluation online today.

What we offer